2017 04 Aug Sept

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ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN BILL BENSLEY World Travel Magazine speaks to Bill Bensley, the Steven Spielberg of Exotic Luxury Travel where adventure & whimsy meet world-class design. 62 World Travel
“First impressions are everything” Bill Bensley This Page, from top, the dramatic Four Seasons Chiang Mai pool; Bill Bensley treats work like a full-time hobby Opposite, shoehorning JW Marriott Phu Quoc into a 150+ year-old university named Lamarck How did a boy from the O.C. (Orange County, California) create a worldrenowned business in Asia and become The King of Luxury, Exotic Travel? Easy. He followed his heart. While most of his friends were grabbing a surf board in search of tasty waves, Bill was more interested in making some of his own. Travelling to all corners of Asia from the 80s on infused and informed his sense of exoticism. Bill said that the design of hotels are akin to making movies––complete with script, scenery, props and cast. He walked us through the drama of arrival at the highly acclaimed, much anticipated Shinta Mani Wild. “Shinta Mani Wild is the doorstep to 800,000 square kilometres of the wilderness of Cambodia’s oldest parks–– Kirirom Bokor and Cardamon. I have written the script for the guest arrival to start with a bang, in that the guest will wind their way through a narrow jungle path on the back of an ATV, climb a tree, strap into a zip line and whiz across 400 metres of forest, and a magnificent waterfall...twice!” Sounds like a scene straight out of Raiders of the Lost Ark! You had me at zip line. Move over Spielberg. Why not zip through waterfalls twice? When asked about the adventure of acquiring the land for Shinta Mani Wild, Bill shared that the whole deal was a bit of a fluke. His partner’s father mentioned off-handedly that the concession within the national parks was due to go to auction about ten years ago. They won the auction, thinking themselves lucky at the time. In a moment of reflection, he shared, “I often think we bit off more than we can chew as the task at hand, controlling rampant logging and illegal wildlife trade, is exhausting.” The lure of celebrity helped to define the experience that will be Shinta Mani Wild. Bill has said that he hoped guests would have the feeling of what it would have been like to be on a luxury safari in the jungles of Cambodia with Jackie O. When asked to share what that idea means to him, Bill explained that Jackie O visited during a time of peace, adding it was perhaps the zenith of recent Cambodian history. “It was a time when few people visited Cambodia, but those that did were treated like royalty. This is how we will treat our guests.” World Travel 63
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WORLD TRAVELMAGAZINE Staying in Arc
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Photograph by Thomas Dekiere/Shutte
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Page 25 and 26: Clockwise from top left, sexy Nobu
Page 27 and 28: FAMILY TOGETHER Family vacations do
Page 29 and 30: WHERE TO GO: BAHAMAS There’s noth
Page 31 and 32: The sun sets over Puncak Villa at N
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Page 39 and 40: winning spa, well-stocked wine cell
Page 41 and 42: Tucked into the tree canopies, the
Page 43 and 44: HOtel de Crillon A Rosewood Hotel,
Page 45 and 46: Royal Mansour Marrakech, Morocco A
Page 47 and 48: The St. Regis Vommuli Resort Maldiv
Page 49 and 50: Hotel Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom, A
Page 51 and 52: &Beyond Matetsi River Lodge Victori
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Page 55 and 56: 3DOLCE & GABBANA Mambo Limited Edit
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Page 69 and 70: Where fantasy transcends reality Th
Page 71 and 72: MUMBAI MAGIC INDIA’S PULSATING FI
Page 73 and 74: This Page, mix grill (meats) at Bot
Page 75 and 76: in Khar, a glam restaurant designed
Page 77 and 78: BANGKOK ELEGANT BOUTIQUE SLEEPS, MI
Page 79 and 80: This Page, blue hour on the deck of
Page 81 and 82: Supanniga Eating Room: Restaurateur
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Page 87 and 88: Jérémy takes local and regional p
Page 89 and 90: Shangri-La Hotel Singapore: There i
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Page 107 and 108: WE ARE GREETED - RATHER FITTINGLY -
Page 109 and 110: This Page, from top, the main swimm
Page 111 and 112: IN THE GOLDEN LIGHT WE PASS CAMEL A
Page 113 and 114: MONTALCINO A FORTRESS TOWN IN TUSCA
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TUSCANY, AN INDULGENT COMBINATION O
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This page, Narrow street in Montalc
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TYLISH HOPPING IN EOUL A LIST OF TR
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STEP INTO GANGNAM FOR A PREVIEW OF
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LAID BACK AND COSMOPOLITAN, CENTRAL
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From top left, view of Banff seen f
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From top left, a chef prepares dess
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From top left, the Last Spike Gift
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A moment alone - almost!
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2017 04 Aug Sept

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