Celebrating the new era of Connections at The Mandrake Hotel

Yesterday evening, we welcomed 100 of our close friends to The Mandrake Hotel to celebrate a significant milestone for Connections. It was an incredibly special and proud moment for us as together, we raised a glass to toast our new era as the international private community for senior executives in travel.

We gathered right at the heart of The Mandrake at the award-winning Jurema – the hotel’s amazing first-floor terrace and secret sanctuary. It was just sensational!

As one of the first official community members, I want to specially thank Tracy, Simon, Joanne, Omar and all your team at The Mandrake for your generous hospitality.

 

You certainly know how to throw a fabulous party – with some of London’s finest cocktail creations! – and I couldn’t think of a more perfect place to celebrate. It was also the first chance for many of our guests to visit The Mandrake, and the feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive, so a big thank you – they were truly impressed!

Last night was also an opportunity for me to extend my gratitude to our fantastic partners, current and new, for their continued support to our community. To Peter Conway and Traveller Made, ATTA, ETOA, Daniela Wagner and PATA, Carina Bauer, Dale Hudson and the team at IMEX, to Stella Photi and Wellbeing Escapes, Joan Estrada Special Weddings, to Matthew Jackson and National Geographic Traveller, and finally Cyndie De Roche from Euromonitor International – a very big thank you from all of us.

Finally, I would like to give a special mention to our advisory friends, who travelled far and wide to be with us. To Gavin Brooking, Rob Sinclair-Barnes, Richard Bousfield and Mary Steadman, Helen Beck, Flavio Zappacosta and Alison Styles – thank you for being there and for your dedicated time and counsel in making Connections 2.0 a reality.

It was an emotional but very rewarding evening, and I’m still beaming from all the wonderful and kind words shared last night.

I honestly can’t wait for what’s next – here’s to 2020!