| There are private rental homes available all over | | | | during his stay in a Caribbean private home, the |
| the world in just about every civilized location you | | | | Majordomo took the initiative to search for him in |
| could name. A very different experience though is | | | | a small motorboat. Once he had established his |
| the elegant, private rental home staffed by | | | | houseguests were safe and well, he cheerily |
| professionals, usually owned by top flight | | | | made his way home again to instruct chef to |
| executives or celebrities, confident of an | | | | start dinner. That is the sort of caring touch |
| extremely high rental to help subsidize the | | | | absent in hotels, however exclusive and |
| substantial running costs of such lofty | | | | expensive they might be. |
| establishments. | | | | A well known and prominent CEO of a British |
| These exclusive homes are easily mistaken for | | | | retail company recently found himself explaining to |
| film sets, every comfort is catered for and the | | | | the housekeeper of the beach villa he was staying |
| holiday experience itself is a memorable one, after | | | | at, in the British Virgin Islands, why he had not |
| all everybody likes to be pampered and waited | | | | eaten his vegetables and why indeed he was now |
| upon, even if it is only for a few days. | | | | ordering a sticky dessert. He did not take |
| There was a time when high profile personalities | | | | offence; in fact he was highly amused and has |
| kept their homes very much to themselves and | | | | booked another two week break in the same |
| ensured absolute anonymity by instructing their | | | | location. There is a certain protective charm to be |
| PR representatives under pain of death to keep | | | | found in the home grown atmosphere generated |
| their address details under lock and key. Now, | | | | by private servants, not present in hotel |
| though, it is a very different story. You can rent | | | | employees, no matter how hard the Management |
| Richard Branson's ski chalet, Jane Seymour's | | | | might try to make it so. |
| English country retreat, or stay in the elegantly | | | | The cost of staying in these places can run to |
| beautiful Chateau Vilette of Da Vinci Code fame, | | | | thousands per day of course, nobody is disputing |
| if you have the money and the time. | | | | it is an expensive way to accommodate a |
| Of course it is all about celebrity, luxury and | | | | vacation. To some people, however, the expense |
| comfort. A seven star hotel will provide every | | | | is secondary to the experience and for those |
| possible refinement if you are looking for that | | | | lucky enough to have the resources to pay for |
| sort of thing. What it will not do is supply the kind | | | | such luxuries the private rental exceeds |
| of privacy and sense of exclusivity which goes | | | | expectation every time. |
| with staying in a private home. | | | | Corporate accountants view the economics |
| In a hotel, you are bound to the hotel menu to a | | | | differently. A top grade hotel can zoom expense |
| degree, or at least within the perimeters of how | | | | out of all proportion when it comes to corporate |
| far the kitchen is prepared to co operate with | | | | entertainment on a large scale. In a private home |
| unusual requests. In a private home there are no | | | | there is a better control of expenditure for |
| limitations, the chefs under employment are | | | | corporate getaways, seminars and meetings, |
| necessarily obliged to produce whatever is asked | | | | especially if the venue is a quiet one, without the |
| for, and are limited only by their own expertise | | | | distractions of a city hotel, and tailored to |
| which is usually considerable. | | | | promote a calm and focused environment, so |
| A recent client of ours was touched and delighted | | | | conducive to Management Team Building, such as |
| that, when he was out rather longer than | | | | Tilloo Pond in Abaco, The Bahamas. |
| anticipated while picnicking on a neighboring island | | | | |