Private Jets Europe is a leading provider of private jet charter services, offering access to exclusive aircraft and personalized travel solutions. The company has established itself as a trusted partner for clients seeking luxury and convenience in air travel. In this interview, we speak with Cristian Octavian Frăsin, CEO and Founder of Private Jets Europe, about his journey in the industry, and the company’s commitment to providing exceptional service to its clients.
Luxury Lifestyle Awards: What inspired you to start Private Jets Europe, and how has the company evolved since then?
Cristian Octavian Frăsin: When we started our business in 2008, we noticed a significant gap in the market for these types of services. Recognizing it as a promising business opportunity, we embarked on a journey to set new standards and surpass expectations in the realm of luxury and corporate private jet charter services. We take great pride in providing a diverse range of professional services, with the utmost emphasis on the health, safety, and comfort of our esteemed clients.
LLA: How do you ensure the safety and security of your clients when they fly with Private Jets Europe?
CF: As I always like to say, safety is our number one priority. We exclusively work with accredited operators, who are the best in the business, and we have access to the latest aircraft types.Especially during the Covid period and in its aftermath, we have implemented strict health and safety guidelines. Chartered flight providers are even more stringent than commercial flights, partly due to the lower number of passengers, which makes it easier to keep track of everyone. Furthermore, private passengers rightfully expect top-quality service, as they have paid for a safe and secure travel experience. It’s important to note that those travelling on commercial flights typically come into contact with around 700 objects and people, on average. In contrast, private flying exposes you to only about 30 contact points.
Read the full interview here
Who is Christi Tannahill, and what is the most important aspect of your role?
I have dedicated the majority of my career to customer service and support. Prior to my current role at Textron Aviation, I held the position of senior Vice-President of turboprop aircraft and interior design. In this role, I oversaw the development of our popular turboprop platforms and led the interior design team. I assumed the position of senior Vice-President of interior design and engineering in 2016. Currently, as senior Vice-President of Customer Experience at Textron Aviation, I am responsible for the interior design and engineering functions across the entire product lineup of the company.
I am married, with 3 children, and a very proud mother. It’s wonderful to be a proud mother, especially when your children have achieved significant milestones in their education. Having two graduates from college, one from Law school, and one currently in junior high school is a great accomplishment.
Each of my children’s educational journeys is unique and represents their individual efforts and paths to success. As a parent, I have played an essential role in supporting and guiding them along the way. I continue to encourage and nurture my children as they progress through their education.
One of the things I love about my job is that I always say I have the best job in the company. I have the opportunity to work closely with customers throughout the entire process, from market research to delivering the airplane. My responsibilities include marketing events like EBACE and overseeing the organization of these events.
I am also involved in designing both the interior and exterior of our products. It’s a rewarding experience to meet with customers even before they become our customers and then deliver the airplane to them when they take delivery. I am fortunate to have an amazing team that consistently performs exceptionally well.
However, the best part of my job is the ability to build relationships with customers, starting from the interior design phase and listening to their needs all the way through to delivering the final product.
How do you balance the need for aesthetics and functionality in the interior design of Textron Aviation’s aircraft, while maintaining a focus on customer experience?
That’s a great question.
The customers’ visionary board is extremely valuable because it allows us to address their needs effectively. When our customers become part of the team, they have the opportunity to share their preferences without any limitations. They communicate everything they desire to have in the airplane.
For example, I often discuss the idea of having a couch in the cabin as a differentiating factor. However, we also maintain transparency by informing them about the potential cost and additional weight associated with their requests.
This open dialogue is essential for making informed decisions. We utilize the information provided by the customers to understand their priorities. They may quickly realize that certain costs or added weight are not favorable to them, but they acknowledge the importance of certain aspects. Even when dealing with a diverse customer base and customer advisory board, we strive to determine what is best for the airplane in terms of performance, design, and functionality. The feedback provided by our customers ensures that we align our efforts with their desires accurately.
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Mountain Hub Gourmet, a Michelin-starred restaurant, is the new Fine Dining Restaurant of the Hilton Munich Airport. Reopened in September 2021, is set against the majestic backdrop of the Alps, right next to Munich Airport. The restaurant’s 33-year-old chef, Stefan Barnhusen has been head chef at Mountain Hub Gourmet since September 2020. He previously worked in the Michelin one-starred Jellyfish restaurant in Hamburg, and at Seehotel Überfahrt on Lake Tegernsee under the three-star chef Christian Jürgens.
The restaurant itself is spacious and boasts a stylish, modern design with an unusual semi-circular floor plan. It’s everything that you would expect it to be, and more, with an attentive and helpful service team, headed up by maître d’ Johannes J. Gahberger. Service-driven they aim to inspire while staying true to their ethos of generous hospitality.
A sophisticated world-class establishment, of the highest excellence, that celebrates the diversity of its guests by offering a sublime food experience. Intended for those with an appreciation for the exceptional, Mountain Hub Gourmet caters to international visitors and locals alike, whether it’s for a business lunch between flights or dinner and an evening of romance.
Using only the best ingredients and fresh, seasonal produce from the area, together with his refined ability, the food is meticulously and magically transformed by a passion to another level. Not only a symphony of flavours but a feast for the eye, each dish is beautifully and playfully presented with the utmost precision and extravagant artistic flair, perfectly balanced by colour, texture, and attention to detail.
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La Zambra has recently been awarded by the experts at Luxury Lifestyle Awards for Best Luxury New Hotel in Andalusia, Spain, in 2022, confirming the hotel’s luxury ambiance and opulent amenities. The reborn hotel that was once known as Byblos hotel for its celebrity status and luxurious activities, has joined The Unbound Collection by Hyatt – dedicated to inspiring its guests to write their unique holiday story of a relaxed and luxurious getaway. The hotel offers a plethora of world-class suites and rooms, traditional yet immersive gastronomy, as well as a tranquil spa and fun activities.
Created by architecture firm Esteva I Esteva, the hotel includes 197 rooms and suites which express soft, tranquil, and relaxing tones, inducing Andalusian essence with a breathtaking backdrop of the luscious landscapes. The use of natural materials embodies the intimate atmosphere of the hotel’s Spanish-Mediterranean architecture and interior.
Room and suite options include garden and golf course views, luxurious amenities, soft linens, and premium experiences like a walk-in rain shower. The hotel offers four different dining concepts that are sure to impress anyone’s tastebuds. Enjoy a combination of innovative and traditional meals that tell stories about La Zambra’s cultural heritage. Experience all-day Mediterranean fare at Palmito’s, neo-tavern dishes paired with the world’s finest wines at Picador, a diverse menu of snacks and drinks at Bambolea Bar, and casual fare at La Bartola, a Spanish-inspired beach bar.
Sofitel Baru Calablanca Beach Resort – Celebrated for Colombia’s First Luxury Resort
Sofitel Baru Calablanca Beach Resort is Colombia’s first luxury resort and is set on the idyllic white sandy beaches of Isla, Barú. The highly anticipated resort opened its doors on December 1st, 2021.
The new hotel is the third Sofitel in Colombia and the country’s first-ever opulent beach destination. The picturesque property sophisticatedly combines Sofitel’s French heritage with the essence of the Caribbean.
Located just 25 minutes from the city of Cartagena, the resort is nestled amid the natural beauty and cultural affluence of Barú. The hotel features an impressive 187 modern and chic rooms, including a presidential suite and 22 luxurious suites, all equipped with terraces and balconies facing the tranquil and turquoise Caribbean Ocean.
This hidden gem of a resort has been awarded by the experts at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards for Best Luxury New Resort in South America 2022, and it’s easy to see why. It features four restaurants, seven bars, and a food truck all under the culinary direction of Patrice Guaus, the world-renowned French chef. These include Calablanca Restaurant and bar, which is a combination of divine Mediterranean and Colombian cuisines, prepared with farm-to-table ingredients and ancestral techniques, Bahía Restaurant & bar overlooking the magic waters of the Caribbean, our unique slow-cooking grill offers mouthwatering dishes that will be perfectly coupled with local cocktails, Humo Restaurant offers dinner-only featuring a robata grill concept inspired by Asian fare.
Guests can enjoy cocktails throughout several social spaces around the resort. La Pergola rooftop terrace is the perfect space to watch Barú’s magical sunsets and our new gastronomic proposal on wheels El Manglito Food truck that is a fun and innovative way to serve guests and visitors who are enjoying the beautiful beaches of Barú.
