Where2FromHere - A Luxury Global Hotel Podcast

Costa Rica is known for its stunning landscapes, adventure activities, and warm hospitality, earning it the title of the happiest country in the world. In this episode, Andrey Gomez from Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa shares how this luxury eco-retreat, located near the iconic Arenal Volcano, offers an unparalleled experience with 18 natural hot spring pools heated to 100°F.Designed with sustainability at its core, Tabacón blends local culture, authentic gastronomy, and wellness, featuring a diverse culinary program—including delicious vegan options. Andrey is proud that Costa Rica is named the #1 happiest country in the world, because yes, Costa Rican are friendly and all smiles. Andrey also shares his personal journey from pharmacy to hospitality, highlighting the importance of local partnerships and cultural integration in creating a truly immersive luxury experience.He loves to travel and his favourite destination is South America. He also loves his children--with whom he unwinds and distress from the luxury hospitality world. To close the episode, he said that Tabacón is big on spa experience and guests love getting treatments in one of many hot springs around the resort.Chapters00:00 Intro01:27 #1 happiest country in the world02:06 Ecotourism pioneer02:40 Andrey's vast experience in hotels outside Costa Rica03:21 Costa Rica as a place of adventure and healing04:31 Tabacon's guests05:08 Tabacon's vision and history06:00 Tabacon's founder: Jaime Mikowski06:35 Costa Rica's culinary07:30 Sustainable culinary with little carbon footprints09:00 Vegans will love Tabacon's meal09:48 From pharmacist to hotelier, Andrey's story11:10 Andrey's favourite way to distress and unwind11:53 How Andrey keeps up with the luxury trends around the globe12:27 Andrey's way of travelling13:05 South America is Andrey's favourite travel destination14:25 Changes in luxury travel industry15:07 Costa Rican are friendly16:41 Why we get to be named #1 happiest country in the world18:20 Expatriates in Costa Rica19:00 Where2FromHere, Andrey?20:16 The origin of the name Tabacon21:40 Spa experience in Tabacon--Subscribe to Where2FromHere for the best and latest regular luxury travel updates. For collaborations, contact us at: [email protected]: Renae Leith-Manos Editor: JC TomeldenContent Writer: Tiasani SundariGraphic & Design: Caylie WilliamsFor more luxury travel go to: www.renaesworld.com.auFor more information on Tabacon Resort & Spa go to: https://www.tabacon.com/resort/Check out our luxury travel instagram: @renaesworldofficialFor Luxury Hotel Consulting: www.luxuryhotelconsulting.comWatch every episode with spectacular visuals from some of the world’s best and most luxurious hotels over on Renae’s YouTube channel, “Renae’s World, Where to From Here”.

Terrence the Teacher from London, an internationally acclaimed mindfulness and wellbeing expert, sits down with Renae Leith-Manos, to talk all things mindfulness.Together, they explore the transformative power of mindfulness, the mind-body connection, and the growing importance of holistic approaches to mental health and wellness in today’s fast-paced world.

He also reveals the powerful benefits of his bi-annual Mindfulness and Meditation Retreats held at the luxurious Hotel Vermelho in Melides, Portugal—a serene, transformative experience that allows participants to rejuvenate their minds, bodies, and souls in a tranquil and upscale environment.

Terrence, a Clinical Hypnotherapist, NLP Practitioner, and Breathwork Certified expert, has spent years studying the intricacies of the mind and body. His personal journey took a life-changing turn after a near-death experience, which sparked a deep desire to understand the powerful link between the mind and body. This quest for understanding led to the development of his highly acclaimed The Brain Edit™ program, a groundbreaking approach to mental health and well-being that has received global recognition.

Throughout this episode, Terrence and Renae discuss the importance of mindfulness in mental health, the impact of corporate wellness programs, and the benefits of integrating mindfulness practices into daily life. The Brain Edit™, which combines clinical hypnotherapy, mindfulness coaching, and meditation, has helped countless individuals and organizations overcome stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges.Chapters00:00 Intro02:33 Terrence's personal growth, self-care and near-death experience04:31 Terrence's own experience of mindfulness and meditation07:38 Overstimulation and the impact of social media on society09:43 Mind-body connection, and how they affect physical responses10:50 Terrence's program: Brain Programming/Brain Edit12:00 Real experiences of the program14:28 Retreat in Portugal15:42 Younger audience of his retreat16:49 The gift of COVID-1917:54 The importance of nutrition in mindfulness and wellness18:45 Fresh, locally produced food are the best nutrition20:00 A sober life 20:32 Balancing social media use with self-care and intuition22:30 Focus on being in the present, on purpose23:50 The extraordinary Vermelho Hotel25:13 Terrence's first meeting with Christian Louboutin27:02 The result of his self-discovery journey28:10 There is no finish line29:34 Brain Edit Book21:15 Come to Vermelho Hotel--Subscribe to Where2FromHere for the best and latest regular luxury travel updates. For collaborations, contact us at: [email protected]: Renae Leith-Manos Editor: Angga KuntaraContent Writer: Tiasani SundariGraphic & Design: Caylie WilliamsFor more luxury travel go to: www.renaesworld.com.auFor more on Terrence the Teacher go to: https://www.terrencetheteacher.com/For more on Vermelho Hotel go to: https://www.vermelhohotel.com/Check out our luxury travel instagram: @renaesworldofficialFor Luxury Hotel Consulting: www.luxuryhotelconsulting.comWatch every episode with spectacular visuals from some of the world’s best and most luxurious hotels over on Renae’s YouTube channel, “Renae’s World, Where2FromHere”.

COMO Castello Del Nero is nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany, and is a 12th-century castle reimagined as a world-class retreat, by the globally recognised wellness brand COMO hotels and resorts.COMO Castello Del Nero is a resort where history, wellness, and indulgence come together in perfect harmony. Edvaldo Brito, the General Manager explains how the estate has become a sanctuary for luxury travellers and wellness seekers globally, earning accolades including Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 50 and the Travelers’ Choice Awards in both the US and UK.Set on 700 acres of serene countryside, COMO Castello Del Nero offers a holistic approach to wellbeing, with yoga, pilates, personal training, and immersive nature trails--up to 300 km longGuests can indulge in Michelin-starred dining at La Torre, featuring a thoughtfully curated vegetarian menu and farm-to-table cuisine designed to nourish both body and soul. COMO Castello del Nero has programs for each guest, from the outdoorsy to the indoor type of guests. For a deeper connection to Tuscany’s culture, the estate offers e-bike tours through vineyard-covered hills, private wine tastings, and exclusive visits to family-run wineries, offering a true taste of local life. Edvaldo himself loves riding an e-bike and exploring nearby villages filled with hidden gems like cafes, osterias and a farmers market. Last November, COMO Castello Del Nero hosted the Curry Sisters Yoga Retreat, blending movement, mindfulness, and relaxation in one of Italy’s most breathtaking landscapes, something they may do again in future.Edvaldo is into fitness and wellness himself, with a daily 10 km commute to work with his mountain bike and he also enjoys pilates. He travels to relax and one of his favourite properties to relax is COMO Shambhala in Bali where he says he can disconnect with top notch wellness programs. Edvaldo says that COMO Castello del Nero is "the perfect place to do everything and absolutely nothing" for its mesmeriaing beauty in nature and perfect, customisable wellness programs for guests.Chapters00:00 Intro01:06 COMO Castello del Nero and the awards01:50 Wellness at the center of COMO Castello del Nero02:23 Fitness and wellness at Tuscany, who would've known?03:27 The history of the castle04:07 Renovation process by COMO started in 201904:45 Italian architect designed the property05:23 Wellness program at COMO Castello del Nero07:38 A place where you can have balanced wellness activities08:09 COMO properties with wellness and Michelin-star restaurants09:02 COMO's great concept on putting amazing quality food and wellness all over the world11:01 Guests leave the property with fuller life11:30 Edvaldo's fit lifestyle12:12 Edvaldo's traveling style13:59 COMO Castello del Nero close proximity to Milan14:34 Italy is home15:00 Property's location is the best of both worlds16:05 Most villa clients are European from neighbouring countries16:50 Explore Tuscany's hidden gems with the e-bike17:48 The villages around property18:28 Edvaldo's favourite one michelin-star osteria and local wine-tasting place20:10 Florence's strategic location to all parts of Italy21:08 Curry Sisters Yoga Retreat at November22:08 Where2FromHere, Edvaldo?22:55 Closing--Subscribe to Where2FromHere for the best and latest regular luxury travel updates. For collaborations, contact us at: [email protected]: Renae Leith-Manos Editor: Angga KuntaraContent Writer: Tiasani SundariGraphic & Design: Caylie WilliamsFor more luxury travel go to: www.renaesworld.com.auFor more information on COMO Castello del Nero go to: https://www.comohotels.com/italy/como-castello-del-neroCheck out our luxury travel instagram: @renaesworldofficialFor Luxury Hotel Consulting: www.luxuryhotelconsulting.comWatch every episode with spectacular visuals from some of the world’s best and most luxurious hotels over on Renae’s YouTube channel, “Renae’s World, Where to From Here”.

Faye James is a celebrated Australian nutritionist and journalist, and is hosting nutrition retreats to help give advice on the most balances and healthy way to eat for the ultimate in health, and lifestyle. She has worked in the health and fitness industry for over 20 years.In this episode, Faye speaks with Renae about how to eat healthily and mindfully during travel adventures to avoid unnecessary weight gain but still indulge and enjoy the holiday. Faye highlights how people in the western world are now facing nutritional and health challenges as so many store-bought foods are labelled as healthy but in reality, they are not. She reveals taking the time to make our own condiments such as tomato sauce can have a huge impact on our health, as store bought products contain so much sugar and so many additives.So called "health foods" often contain unhealthy oils and preservatives--something to keep a long shelf life, but that doesn't serve our energy levels or overall balance. Faye believes "You really are what you eat."Faye talks about how mindful eating and exercise can help women through menopause and that men also experience something similar called andropause and need to watch their diet and workout regime too. She wrote about this in her book, The Menopause, saying that the right food and exercise can put menopausal weight gain at bay. These are some of the themes within her wellness retreat which includes: cooking lessons, yoga, a reset and re-energise, and conversations around mindful eating. As a frequent flyer, Renae asks Faye for some tips on how to avoid bloating while flying long hours and her answer is surprisingly simple: do not eat on the plane, eat fruit at breakfast time and drink lots of water. While lots of people think we only need to focus on diet and exercise, in reality, Faye says, there are four main components of a healthy life: diet, exercise, sleep and stress. Managing all of these elements is the key to a healthy, long life.In addition, Fay is travel writer and author, known for her evocative storytelling that brings the world’s most enchanting destinations to life. Her books, including The Long Life Plan, The Long Table: Recipes and Stories from the World’s Cultures and The Art of Slow Travel: Finding Serenity in a Fast-Paced World, reflect her passion for cultural discovery, culinary exploration, and mindful living. .Chapters:00:00 Intro00:32 Faye James profile02:08 Mindful eating while travelling03:24 Intermittent fasting 10104:49 How did Faye James get into nutrition?06:15 The biggest challenge of western people diet right now07:56 Going back to basics is key08:40 Secrets of blue zones around the world09:33 A mindful, home-cooked meal a day in the week will give big changes in our day to day life11:07 The Menopause: eating better can do better than the quick fix12:25 why nutrition is not the fundamental point of healing ourselves?15:12 Men also go through Andropause16:22 Tips on avoiding bloating on long flight17:58 Airplane food18:45 Stress and nutrition19:52 The four main components of a healthy life21:07 menopausal weight gain management22:30 key points to take home from the wellness retreat23:35 Where2FromHere, Faye James?-Subscribe to Where2FromHere for the best and latest regular luxury travel updates. For collaborations, contact us at: [email protected]: Renae Leith-Manos Editor: Saras NaiduContent Writer: Tiasani SundariGraphic & Design: Caylie WilliamsFor more luxury travel go to: www.renaesworld.com.auFor more work of Faye James, go to: https://www.instagram.com/fayecelinejames/?hl=en and https://www.fayejames.com.au/aboutCheck out our luxury travel instagram: @renaesworldofficialFor Luxury Hotel Consulting: www.luxuryhotelconsulting.comWatch every episode with spectacular visuals from some of the world’s best and most luxurious hotels over on Renae’s YouTube channel, “Renae’s World, Where to From Here”.

Clint Nagata, the creative force behind BLINK Design Group, has redefined luxury hospitality design with his bold vision and an innate ability to tell a story through space. He speaks to Renae about the latest luxury hotel design trends, and where the luxury hotel industry design is headed.

As the founder of a globally celebrated design firm, Clint combines his Hawaiian roots with a deep respect for diverse cultures to craft immersive environments that transcend the ordinary. From serene beachfront resorts to urban sanctuaries, his designs weave together local traditions, natural beauty, and modern elegance.

His impeccable portfolio spans the globe and includes 6 Senses Kyoto, Fullerton Hotel Ocean Park Hong Kong, Regent Phu Quoc Vietmam, JW Marriott Khao Lak, and the Hilton LXR Hotel line Roku Kyoto, Japan. In this episode, he talks about his first project over 18 years ago in China, and how he didn’t expect his architecture career to end up being a designer of luxury hotels and resorts. He chose Bangkok as a base for its vibrant, lively city.

As a seasoned hotel designer, Clint explains that guest's expectations have changed in recent years and adapting is part of the challenge of his job. He says that the luxury hotel industry in Japan is growing and many new hotels are opening including Janu Tokyo, the “affordable” Aman resorts, at a whopping $3000 a night, as well as the newly opened 6 Senses and Banyan Tree in Kyoto.

He says many luxury hotel brands are shifting into branded residential offerings. And as renovation cycles vary, Clint shares he once designed a renovation for the Amanoi, so fast it took only 5 months from designing to opening.

Clint travels a lot for work, 40 trips in 2024. He is now currently on two projects in France (Nord Valley and Normandy) and another in the Middle East. He did a project in Australia, at the Wirra Wirra winery and would love to come back to Australia. He reflects that he can’t choose one stand out project of his as he loves them all but he says he believes the Middle East has many offerings that are yet to be showcased to the world.

To close this episode, Clint talks about his plans to travel to the US to visit his son and to attend a conference and the Gold Key Award where he is shortlisted. Also great to know that he and Renae both share a history in Lego—pivotal points in their jobs, respectively.

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:10 Clint’s bio and portfolio

02:43 The most challenging part in designing a hotel

04:36 How long does it take to finish a project?

05:30 Where Clint’s inspiration come from

06:35 1st project in China—18 years ago

08:03 Why Bangkok?

10:02 How the demands changed for hotel designing on recent years1

1:50 Janu Tokyo, the ‘affordable’ Aman resort

14:20 His designs are heavily influenced by Japanese values

15:46 Sustainability in hotel designing

16:51 Hotel designers shifts into branded residentials

18:39 Renovation cycle of a hotel

19:25 Clint did redesign Amanoi

20:00 We are Explorers—BLINK’s tagline and recent project in Baku

20:53 He travels a lot

21:45 Clint’s family

22:01 Ongoing projects right now

22:50 Wirra Wirra Project

23:34 Greatest achievement as a hotel designer

25:04 Thoughts of Middle East as the new center of luxury hotel industry

26:07 Where2FromHere, Clint?

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SUBSCRIBE to Where2FromHere for the best and latest regular luxury travel updates. For collaborations, contact us at: [email protected]: Renae Leith-Manos Editor: JC TomeldenContent Writer: Tiasani SundariGraphic & Design: For more luxury travel go to: www.renaesworld.com.auFor more design from BLINK Design Group go to: https://www.blinkdg.com/portfolio/Check out instagram: @renaesworldofficialFor Luxury Hotel Consulting: www.luxuryhotelconsulting.comWatch every episode with spectacular visuals from some of the world’s best and most luxurious hotels over on Renae’s YouTube channel, “Renae’s World, Where to From Here”.

Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort is a French style luxury beachfront oasis combining French elegance and authentic Balinese charm.

Lošinj Hotels & Villas in Croatia is the most secret anti-aging destination in the world, and it is a location best visited in winter, when tourism is low, and fresh air is in abundance.

Como Shambhala in Bali's Ubud is one of the world's leading wellness retreats. Kimberly Rose, the Wellness Director at COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali, embodies a philosophy of holistic wellbeing that merges ancient wisdom with modern science. At COMO Shambhala, her mission is clear: to guide guests on transformative wellness journeys, where true rejuvenation and healing are at the forefront.

William Curley, the acclaimed Scottish chocolatier and pastry chef, has earned a revered place in the world of gourmet confections, blending traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge creativity. Curley’s creations have become synonymous with luxury and indulgence, attracting food connoisseurs from across the globe.

Mati Nyazema is the visionary force behind Mbano Manor Hotel, a sustainable, luxurious five star safari escape nestled on the doorstep of Zimbabwe’s iconic Victoria Falls.

Mbano Manor Hotel honors the essence of African luxury. Surrounded by lush teak forests and with world-class service at its core, the hotel is a true reflection of Mati’s meticulous attention to detail and unwavering standards of excellence. Here she talks about elephants walking through the site as she built it, and about sustainability that is enforced around Victoria Falls. Mbano Manor is more than just a place to stay—it’s Mati’s homage to Zimbabwe’s culture, wildlife, and stunning landscapes. Under her leadership, the hotel has garnered international acclaim for its sustainable practices, elegant design, and dedication to creating authentic, meaningful experiences for its guests.

In this podcast episode, Mati's blend of sophisticated hospitality and heartfelt storytelling has made Mati Nyazema a notable figure in the luxury travel world.