W. Scott Simmons Joins BeautifulPlaces
Leading International Villa Hospitality Company Adds Management, Properties, Destinations
January 17, 2011 - BeautifulPlaces, a leading international luxury villa hospitality and experiential travel company, names W. Scott Simmons Vice President, Business Development. “With Scott's luxury travel credentials and experience, BeautifulPlaces is now positioned to continue its growth from a successful niche company to a leader in the international villa marketplace,” remarked Patrick Smith, founder, President and CEO of BeautifulPlaces Inc. “Scott will be instrumental in our expansion and he has already helped to secure the addition of a prime Nantucket development to our villa portfolio,” added Smith. “He will also be a key figure in our next phase as we launch new business initiatives in 2011.”
As Chief Operations Officer of Andrew Harper Travel, publisher of the industry leading Hideaway Report, Simmons was responsible for the company's day-to-day operations and expansion. Prior to AHT, he was a senior member of the executive management team at Abercrombie & Kent where he co-founded A&K Hotels and Resorts and led the company's successful funding initiatives. Prior to entering the travel industry, Simmons was a mergers and acquisitions advisor in London and New York. He will remain in Chicago where he will direct East Coast initiatives for the Sonoma, CA-based BeautifulPlaces.
“Over the past decade, I have taken an active role in the growth of lifestyle travel and I am eager to be part of BeautifulPlaces' exciting future. Unlike other market segments, luxury villas rentals have remained a strong part of the luxury travel marketplace as more and more travelers embrace the concept once reserved for the uber-wealthy,” noted Simmons.
Simmons' arrival is part of a management restructure that BeautifulPlaces has undertaken to better meet the needs of its growing business. Liza Graves, co-founder of BeautifulPlaces, has been appointed President & COO of the company effective immediately and will assume responsibility for day-to-day operations. Smith will retain his position as CEO and serve as CEO of a major new business initiative BeautifulPlaces is due to launch later this year.
BeautifulPlaces was established in 2003 by Smith initially focusing on vacations in the Northern California wine regions of Napa and Sonoma. Today the company represents more than 160 exceptional homes and estates in ten global destinations. BeautifulPlaces has created a new dimension in luxury travel offering guests an authentic lifestyle experience in a variety of prime destinations around the world - the wine regions of Northern California, France and Italy…the resort areas of Mexico, Palm Beach, the Bahamas and, most recently, Nantucket and The Hamptons. In addition to a select portfolio of villa and estates rentals adhering to strict standards of excellence, BeautifulPlaces offers five-star services and amenities through its Concierge department: handling all personal arrangements; planning custom itineraries; creating exclusive experiences and hands on activities for guests; and providing insider tips about the destination. (www.beautiful-places.com)
BeautifulPlaces represents the finest international real estate with properties to suit all tastes from mountain top architectural wonders to classic historic villas to lush vineyard estates to charming family homes. Unlike 'one size fits all' hotels, a villa stay ensures a truly personal experience with the utmost in privacy, security, authenticity and a relaxed informality for an ideal vacation.
In 2010, for the fourth consecutive year, the editors of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure selected BeautifulPlaces as one of the top villa agents in the world. The BeautifulPlaces experience has been featured in top media outlets including USA Today, Robb Report, Forbes, AARP and CNN. BeautifulPlaces is headquartered in Sonoma, California. For more information and reservations, call 1-800-495-9961 or 707-996-0266.
Media Contact:
Arlene Winnick
310-274-6430
[email protected]
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