Beyond

Annie Fitzsimmons
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Places & Travel

A travel podcast that goes beyond travel, and talks about things no one else is talking about.  From two highly opinionated travel vets: Jack Ezon, co-founder of $300 million travel company Embark Beyond; and longtime luxury travel editor and expert Annie Fitzsimmons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 22h ago

    Survival of the Closest: Luxury Travel Trends Now

    Annie Fitzsimmons sits down with Jack Ezon to unpack his Embark Beyond's Q1 and Q2 trends report, combined for the first time thanks to a whiplash-inducing year of headlines. Before getting into the data, Jack and Annie trade notes from travel and events–a private dinner for Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp inside the Delvaux flagship on New Bond Street in London; an Embark top producer trip to the Ranch at Rock Creek with founder Jim Manley; why the Schiaparelli exhibition in London is so good it deserves at least two visits; a St.Tropez weekend with Bo House villas, and a stay at Borgo Egnazia in Puglia. Then they dig into the report–Jack makes the case that the so-called experience economy is over and that connection is the real engine behind travel decisions. He and Annie walk through his four Ps–peptides, paddle, passions and predictions–and they talk through why loneliness has become one of the biggest forces shaping how brands and hotels need to show up for their guests. Along the way, they cover how Ferrari was one of the first brands to bring owners together (and thoughts on the latest design), the complicated crowding in St. Bart's and Capri that makes enjoyment hard, and why the general manager who actually shows up on the floor matter much more than another beautiful lobby. And how the next big influencers are the administrators of the right WhatsApp groups. Join them for this lively, fast-moving conversation about luxury travel and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min

  2. Apr 30

    Live from Rio with Jack Ezon + Annie Fitzsimmons

    What we loved in Rio, live from Embark Immersion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  3. Mar 30

    Franco Loro Piana On What Matters + Our Big Spring Update

    Jack Ezon and Annie Fitzsimmons recap a whirlwind stretch: being with the world's top event planners in Monaco, an incredible 40th anniversary celebration for Noteworthy at the Natural History Museum, how to plan the ultimate 16th birthday in Paris and more - shopping in Charleston, a cool project in Morocco, and meeting gorillas in Uganda along the way. They also talk through the real whiplash affecting travel this season, including airfare volatility, oil prices, and broader global uncertainty.  Our number 1 travel tip right now? BUY NOW. Then, live from Milan, they sit down with Franco Loro Piana to talk about Sease, the brand he has built after leaving his family business, and about heritage, performance, the best fabrics, and why the future of luxury lies partly lies in creating a community people want to belong to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 9m

  4. Feb 24

    Milan, Giulia Molteni, and the Hottest Week in Design

    In the first ten minutes, Jack and Annie talk art, permanence, and the psychology of design decisions. Annie is still trying to buy a rug (four years and counting), Jack argues that not everything has to be forever. They also zoom out to where to find trusted travel intel when editorial lines feel increasingly blurred...and a quick mention of Embark's growth to $350 million. Plus, a recurring argument about one particularly unfortunate hotel photo in Wengen. Then, they both sit down in Milan with Giulia Molteni, CMO of Molteni&C, inside the brand’s newly opened palazzo showroom. As a third-generation leader of one of Italy’s most historic design houses (and the granddaughter of one of the founders of Salone del Mobile) Giulia talks about innovation versus heritage, why the first question in any home project should be emotional rather than aesthetic, and how Molteni keeps the legacy of Gio Ponti alive through exclusive re-editions. They also discuss why Milan has become one of the most important global capitals for design. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min

  5. Jan 23

    The 2026 Travel Pulse, with Veronica Bocelli

    January starts with a little existential whiplash but then it’s turned into a travel and trends forecast. In the first half, Jack and Annie start planning for 2026 and look back on surprises of the last month: Dubai’s glow-up (Jack likes to say it’s the new winter St. Tropez); client shifts like less alcohol and the most-requested feature of the moment: a padel court. Annie shares her latest obsession, Estelle Manor in the English countryside, plus a quick New York trip (Faena has the best bar in NYC right now and the Waldorf’s public spaces are incredible). In the second half, Jack sits down with Veronica Bocelli at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park for a meaningful conversation about how the Andrea Bocelli Foundation scaled its mission through education and music, and how philanthropy, community, and culture intersect in the Bocellis’ Italy world, like Forte dei Marmi — including how Embark clients can access exclusive, invitation-only Bocelli concerts and gala experiences in Italy. Stay tuned for how they met at the very end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min

  6. 12/11/2025

    2026 Hot Hotels & Destinations

    Jack and Annie give a recap of ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market) Cannes (only a small bit of gossip this year), plus favorite hotel openings and destinations for 2026 from the Q4 trends report and why sustainability is the word of the quarter, but not in the way you're thinking. And at the end, listen for Jack's big tip on how to save 50% on airfare to Japan and add on a trip to Amanpulo at the same time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min

  7. 11/20/2025

    The Big Fall Update, Just Us

    Jack and Annie check in after a buzzing trip to Milan (“Salone is the new Art Basel”) and break down why the city is on fire right now. They swap hotel notes–the Park Hyatt Milan bar playlist really is that good–before diving into Annie’s new Roman obsession, the Orient Express La Minerva, and the fabulous hotel in Germany where she got the best Botox of her life (“a tiny but exquisite facelift”). They also debate the credibility of the World’s 50 Best list (and all the lists) and why Annie loved the glamour of it and being surrounded by hotel obsessives. Plus, at the end, Annie interviews Jack about his favorite things to do and why Monaco always calls him back.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  8. Surprise, Delight, Disrupt: Omer Acar on Hospitality

    09/14/2025

    Surprise, Delight, Disrupt: Omer Acar on Hospitality

    Jack and Annie check in live from Hotel Lutetia in Paris, swapping honeymoon ideas for Taylor Swift (think Royal Malewane, Cape Town, Singita, and Kisawa), their own fall goals (half marathons, stylists, Africa trips, and launching lifestyle experiences), and why travel is the ultimate way to activate passions. Then, a conversation with Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles and Fairmont, one of the top minds in global hospitality, and one of Jack's major inspirations. He shares why he makes his bed every day (even in hotels), how luxury brands should surprise, delight, and disrupt, and the lessons he’s learned leading some of the world’s most iconic hotels. Omer talks passion, curiosity, inspiration, his favorite thing about living in New York City, and the TV show that has him hooked. Just don't try to find him on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

A travel podcast that goes beyond travel, and talks about things no one else is talking about.  From two highly opinionated travel vets: Jack Ezon, co-founder of $300 million travel company Embark Beyond; and longtime luxury travel editor and expert Annie Fitzsimmons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Annie Fitzsimmons
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Annie Fitzsimmons
  • Show Website
    Beyond

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