5 mins with...Jo Hendry Prior
luxury travel consultant
In an age when booking travel is easy online, we're curious...what does a travel consultant do in 2022?
Ha! Good question! Yes, it's true...booking a holiday online is easier now than it ever has been, but there is still so much a travel consultant can bring to travellers looking for an exceptional - or perhaps 'off the beaten track' experience. The kind of travel experience that might not be so easy to reveal with a Google search. This is where my job really delivers. Think of me as your all knowing travel expert here to unearth trips you hadn't even thought about, let alone be able to book! As you can imagine the Covid years were tough for my profession but since the end of restrictions, travel is definitely back and people are getting more adventurous and less nervous about going further afield which is brilliant and makes the job of a travel consultant more exciting and more valuable. With our insider knowledge and contacts across the world, we can suggest destinations and experiences that our clients may not have previously known about, organise the best trips and create truly memorable experiences that are totally bespoke to them.
It is also a common misconception that you can get a better deal by booking direct online - often the cost is the same (online can sometimes be slightly cheaper) but the additional benefits of using a travel specialist is knowing your booking is secure, inside knowledge of the hotel (like best rooms to book) not to mention perks like room upgrades and hotel credits. The fact that we have a worldwide network means we can often get the best overall price and experience for our clients.
Who is a typical client and how do you help them?
Many of my clients don't have the time to plan or research their trips and want guidance on where to stay and what to do etc. Equally, they tend to want to stay in luxury properties with excellent food and service but are looking for something that is more than just a hotel on a beach, so it’s not always about just booking a 5 star hotel. Instead, it’s about making sure I gain a good understanding of their requirements and interests so I can create a bespoke itinerary or handpick the ideal hotel or villa for them, aiming to surpass their expectations. There is so much to explore in Asia that you might not know about so it’s great to introduce different ideas to people who love to travel.
How is your business set up?
I am an independent partner of 360 Private Travel, which is a travel business headquartered in the UK. The business is made up of independent partners all around the world. We all work for ourselves and have our own clients and are responsible for our own P&L, but we have the support from 360 Private Travel in terms of contracts with hotels, finance and admin - which leaves us to focus on our relationship with clients. It’s like the best of both worlds for me - I get to work independently but I have a worldwide network of colleagues and we all help each other out as a team.
Talk us through a typical day in your life…
I usually get woken up at 6.30am by my son. While he eats breakfast I have a cup of tea and read emails before the school bus comes. Now that I don’t do the school run I’ve got into the habit of driving my husband to work - it’s quite a nice time to catch up and chat at the beginning of the day. I usually call a friend on the way home for a chat as well and depending on my schedule I might try and fit in a HIIT class at the Polo Club before getting back home.
Breakfast is usually a blueberry smoothie. I love Dr David Sinclair’s podcasts - he specialises in youth and ageing and he swears by blueberries in helping to slow down ageing, so I have become obsessed with them! Into my blueberry smoothie I also add maca powder (for my hormones), ashwaghanda powder (for general mood), beetroot powder, linseed, coconut water, bananas and spinach. I know, that doesn’t sound very delicious but it really is and it is a great way to start the day.
My morning beauty routine is pretty quick and easy. I have always struggled with my skin and about a year ago I started seeing April at Expat Beauty Room and she has transformed my skin. Pre-makeup I use Avene Cleanance Serum - it’s my absolute favourite - followed by Christina Balancing Cream moisturiser. Then it’s some light makeup and I’m ready for the day.
my favourite beauty products
My work day varies in length and when not working from home, I work at 1880 in Robertson Quay - sometimes it’s nice to feel in amongst others while working and if I have meetings, I can also schedule them for there as well. On any given day I might be immersed in Fiji in the morning, South America in the afternoon and on safari by the evening! My work day is a mixture of speaking with clients, meeting with hotels, coordinating with colleagues and working on itineraries.
Generally I try to get home for bath and bedtime with my son. I love getting home, turning on the lamps, closing the curtains and putting on some chilled music like Fleetwood Mac to relax and get cosy with my son at the end of the day - ready for my husband to get home. Once our son is in bed, it’s dinner with my husband - perhaps a glass of red wine (there’s usually a nice bottle of something French knocking about) followed by some Netflix. I love watching documentaries (I enjoyed ‘The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards’ about Manolo Blahnik, the Untold series and others like ‘Halftime’ JLo - life begins at 50 apparently!)
Before bed I usually have a loose-leaf herbal tea from Scoop or Kilogramme Eco Grocer. I have a lovely teapot from T2 which is perfect for making a delicious brew. My favourite mix at the moment is rose buds, camomile flowers and lavender.
One of my absolute favourite destinations is the Maldives and I love Nautilus in the Baa Atoll. It’s not to be missed!
You must have been on some amazing holidays. Which one ranks right up there in Asia?
The Maldives is a slam dunk for me from Singapore - it is so easy to get to and if you stay in the Male Atoll, you can be sipping on your welcome drink within 40 mins of landing. There are so many properties to chose from and I really feel like there is an island to suit everyone. It's also super easy to island hop if you get itchy feet. Vietnam is super cool too - I love the culture, people, the nightlife and the food. You can do an amazing trip that ticks all the boxes - history, culture, adventure and amazing restaurants - finishing on some of the most beautiful beaches in South East Asia.
Your 5 favourite hotels in Asia?
I love the 'barefoot luxury' properties in the Maldives like Six Senses Laamu and Gili Lankanfushi - they have a great mantra 'No Shoes, No News'. Six Senses Yao Noi is a wonderful retreat - the boat trip to the hotel is like entering another world - the limestone casts jutting out of the water are so dramatic and the water is crystal clear. Mandapa in Ubud is fantastic and so good for families looking for something a bit different, and Nihi Sumba is still a firm favourite.
my favourite hotels in Asia
Rumour on the street is that Desaru Coast is the new Bali. Is that true?
Haha. That's a good rumour! But I don't think so - Bali sort of stands apart from lots of beach destinations because it's so diverse and has so many other activities other than just the beach. Perhaps I could start a rumour that Desaru is more like Langkawi which I think is more accurate. Desaru has some beautiful beaches and it is easy to get to, especially since the ferry has started running again, so it does make a fantastic weekend escape if you just want a lovely hotel on the beach and maybe some golf. My pick for Desaru is The One & Only Desaru - originally built for Aman hotels, it's very slick and modern. They have a very cool beach club with a great menu (by Andy Walsh, Cure Singapore) and a beautiful white sandy beach, as well as a great kids club and an unrivalled sports centre complete with paddle tennis courts! If you go, let me know...should the rumour be Bali or Langkawi...?
Closer to home, where is your go-to for pre-dinner drinks in Singapore?
I love Thirty Six on Club Street - my husband owns it so of course it's where I would go! Without any bias, they have a great cocktail menu and a really cosy private room - I went for their ladies night last week and it was fantastic. The food and service are excellent and my friend Clare from The Grey House did the interiors so it's a special place for me and just a lovely place to just hang out with friends.
Friday night date night...where do you head to?
We're spoilt for choice in Singapore but my picks would be Thevar - excellent modern Indian which I love. Cloudstreet tasting menu is amazing and Lukes is still a favourite.
Top 3 fashion brands that you are loving right now...
Isabel Marant, Ulla Johnson, Sezane - really feminine, comfortable dresses and pretty tops.
It's your turn to cook, you turn to...
Food Dolls! I lost the love for cooking after lockdown but I have got back into it since discovering Food Dolls - they have some delicious, super easy recipes that I have been using a lot recently. Their one pot chicken tacos are scrumptious! I also have a WhatsApp group with my friends called ‘What’s for Supper?’ where we all share recipes and ideas which is a bit of a lifesaver when you’re stuck. Generally I shop at Little Farms for groceries and if I can’t be bothered to cook, I might order takeaway from Le Rida or Living Cafe.
Finally, money and time are no objects...where do you go on holiday...
This is so hard as my bucket list grows daily, but if money was no object I would take my family on safari to Singita Castleton in Sabi Sands, Kruger, or take a big luxury chalet or hotel like Airelles in France for the season, or spend the summer at Passalacqua on Lake Como with all my favourite people!
We can all dream!
Get in touch with Jo to book your next holiday email: johp@360privatetravel.com / or instagram @jhptravel