lifestyle

The Brotherockers - The Ultimate in Live Entertainment - Performing in Monaco at the 2021 Club Vivanova Luxury Lifestyle Charity Gala Dinner

The 7th Edition Club Vivanova Luxury Lifestyle Charity Gala Dinner will be hosted on Saturday 13th November in Monaco. Organisers are encouraging people to give back and contribute to charity at the glitzy gala that offers a fun-filled evening of fine food and entertainment.

The gala event enables distinguished business leaders from across the globe, Club Vivanova members, and VIP partners to enjoy a fantastic night out with a purpose. This year’s gala event will be held at the Fairmont Monte Carlo. The event will kick-off at 7pm with a Champagne cocktail reception, followed by a four-course gourmet dinner courtesy of Meilleur Ouvrier de France and Premium International Wines.

Entertainment will include a haute couture fashion show and live music courtesy of The Brotherockers. Rounding-out the event will be a charity auction and contemporary art exhibition.

"We only achieve great things in life by giving back and our annual gala is organised to appreciate the best things in life whilst offering attendees the chance to donate to worthy, local and life-changing charities,” Bradley Mitton, Club Vivanova Founder, said. “The complete funds donated during our charity auction are split equally between our charities, offering a transparent way to donate to helping children, our planet and those in need.” Bradley Mitton - Club Vivanova Founder.

Tickets for this year’s event start at €200 per person. Dress code is black tie.
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This Week - Club Partner Billionaire Porto Cervo Opens ‘The Billionaire Experience’ - a Thrilling Dining and Entertaining Adventure and Unique Sensorial Journey

Porto Cervo July 2021 - On July 24th, Billionaire Porto Cervo opens again its doors with the debut of a new mesmerizing concept called ‘The Billionaire Experience’, a thrilling dining and entertaining adventure and unique sensorial journey which needs to be experienced to be believed.

After 23 years as the most renowned club and an emblem amongst the world’s most glamorous Summer destinations, Billionaire Porto Cervo totally changes look and concept and offers its guests an evening of pure escapism by pairing its extraordinary on stage performances with an exquisite culinary experience to be enjoyed in the most mesmerizing settings of Costa Smeralda.

The new Billionaire Porto Cervo shakes up the hospitality scene with a unique approach that blends    a variety of performances on stage unfolding throughout the night, enriched by an incredible multi-course dinner served under the Costa Smeralda sky. 

Italian visionary entrepreneur, Flavio Briatore has been enthralling guests since the launch of the very first Billionaire in Porto Cervo in 1998. Last Fall he launched Billionaire Dubai, an ongoing incredible success followed by the opening of Billionaire Riyadh in early 2021.  Now “The Billionaire Experience” traces back its roots and comes to Porto Cervo, where it all began, to amaze, to impress and to conquer! 

With its perfect blend of food and entertainment, paired with an electrifying atmosphere, it is a spectacle unlike anything you’ve experienced before. Scouring the globe for the best of the best, Billionaire Dubai’s Artistic Production Director, Montserrat Moré, formerly of Cirque Du Soleil, Lìo and Pacha Ibiza, has brought to Sardinia a cast of the world’s most talented dancers, singers and acrobats in a show that transports guests to wonderous land of unadulterated fun. 

Sharing center stage, Celebrity Chef Bauthan Piatti Zeynioglu has created a phenomenal set menu that combines New-Asian modernity and Italian authenticity. The menu is as plentiful as it is resplendent, taking guests on a culinary journey of discovery with flavorsome surprises around every corner. 

Billionaire Porto Cervo has partnered with Ares Design, the Italian luxury car brand based in Modena, Emilia Romagna, the land of sports car excellence renowned in the whole world, to create a bespoke Billionaire Porto Cervo Defender, to transfer guests in and from the venue.

Billionaire takes its guests on an electrifying adventure, with the opening weekend of the 24th of July, having stunned, surprised and exhilarated audiences and will be open every night until August 28th. Due to space and date limitations, it’s highly recommended to book well in advance not to be disappointed!

Address: Via Rocce sul Pevero, 07021 Golfo Pevero SS
Restaurant Opening Hours: 9pm through 3am
Show Timings: From 9.30pm
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Club Vivanova Launches Partnerships for the 7th Edition Luxury Lifestyle Charity Gala to Benefit the Chances for Children Foundation, the Borneo Wildlife Preservation and Mimosa

CLUB VIVANOVA 7TH EDITION LUXURY LIFESTYLE CHARITY GALA
Saturday 13th November 2021 . 7pm

Fairmont Monte Carlo . Salle d’Or Ballroom
featuring High On Heels – the Ultimate in Live Entertainment

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“For the last six years, we have hosted our annual Luxury Lifestyle Charity Gala in Monaco to give back and help those in need. It is only by giving that we receive, and we rally our international partners and members together for a sensational night of gourmet food and wine, with entertainment and fantastic networking opportunities in one of the most spectacular ballrooms on the French Riviera, where we host a charity auction. We invest into our selected charities and into our planet, the animal world, people in need and children, giving them all the chance to develop in a sustainable environment. We partner with the International University of Monaco to help develop young bright minds into this concept of giving together. It’s a wonderful night and we hope for an excellent 7th Edition in 2021."
Bradley Mitton / Club Vivanova and Gala Founder

7pm Galerie Cristal Champagne Aperitif
Four Course Meilleur Ouvrier de France Gourmet Dinner
Premium International Wines
Haute Couture Fashion Show
Live Entertainment HIGH ON HEELS
Charity Auction
Contemporary Art Exhibition

View our Charities
For the benefit of Chances for Children, the Borneo Wildlife Preservation and Mimosa
"We only achieve great things in life by giving back and our annual gala is organised to appreciate the best things in life whilst offering attendees the chance to donate to worthy, local and life-changing charities." 

EU Post Brexit - Why It’s Time To 'Think Local' For Your Financial Planning In France

Now that Brexit is here, EU-resident Britons with UK bank accounts, investments or a UK-based financial adviser may see accounts closed or face restrictions. In these times of widespread restrictions and lockdowns, our worlds have become a lot smaller. Whether this will have a long-term effect on your travel, lifestyle and shopping habits will be a personal matter. But with Brexit now in full flow, UK nationals living in France have good reason to permanently ‘think local’ when it comes to financial arrangements. 

Just as UK citizens lost automatic EU freedom of movement when Brexit took effect on 1 January, many UK financial businesses lost the right to provide banking and investment services within the EU. If you are resident in France but still use a UK bank account, other financial products or a UK-based financial adviser, make sure you check where you – and your money – stand.

UK financial services and Brexit 
Before Brexit, UK firms providing financial services to Britons living in the EU could legally do so through ‘passporting’ arrangements. This meant UK providers – enforced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – were committed to meet the same minimum standards and consumer protections for EU residents as other EU states. 

But now that the UK (and the FCA) are free to make their own rules, the EU has no assurance that UK firms will meet their requirements. Consequently, on 1 January, the EU withdrew passporting rights for UK firms ­– including banks, insurance companies, investment providers and financial advisers. Now, some could even be breaking the law by working with EU residents.  

Does this affect all UK financial firms?
This depends on various factors, including how a company is structured and where it is based. Those with headquarters in an EU country, for example, can retain their passporting licence and continue operating as before. 

However, wholly UK-based firms who want to support EU-resident clients will likely need to restructure and form agreements with the financial regulators for each EU/EEA country they operate in. This is a highly complex, expensive and time-consuming process, so not a cost-effective option for all.

Negotiations on financial services are ongoing, so it is possible that the UK and EU may still reach an arrangement in this area. Some companies may be holding out for this before going through the potentially unnecessary expense of restructuring. Others have already withdrawn from EU markets. 

Some major UK banks have informed EU-based clients that they cannot provide services for them post-Brexit and closed their accounts. Other providers have kept accounts/policies open but suspended activity, or are allowing them to run until the end of their term.  

How might this affect you? 
If you hold a British bank account, insurance policy, investment or other financial product and your provider hasn’t contacted you about limited services, ask them what arrangements they have in place for France. 

If your account has not been closed, has it been frozen? In some cases, while you may be able to retain existing accounts and make withdrawals as an EU resident, you may be restricted from adding or moving funds or renewing policies. You may also be unable to apply for new services, such as term deposits, bonds, foreign currency management, loans, credit cards and mortgages. 

If you still use a UK-based financial adviser, check they have the authority to continue supporting you as a French resident. Besides the legal implications – and whether you are protected if things go wrong – some financial institutions have stopped accepting instructions from UK-based (unregulated) providers. So if you hold EU-based investments, your planning options may be significantly limited with a UK adviser. 

Post-Brexit financial planning for France
Even if the financial services issue does not affect you, there are other key benefits to thinking more local for your finances. 

Still holding on to UK savings and investments? Now that UK assets are no longer EU/EEA assets, they could potentially attract a higher tax bill within the EU. ISAs are also taxable in France for non-UK residents. Own UK property? Remember: EU residents are still in the firing line for UK stamp duty and capital gains tax.

Meanwhile, French residents have access to opportunities that can offer better tax-efficiency and other potential benefits, so make sure you review your options.

What about UK pensions? This is not so straightforward. You may be better off leaving them in the UK and drawing income as needed in France. However, while Brexit does not affect the ability to receive UK pension income into an EU account, it will always be paid in sterling, so the value could be adversely affected by exchange rates and conversion costs. Explore whether it may be more beneficial for you to transfer funds out of the UK into a tax-efficient structure for France. Doing so could also unlock currency flexibility and estate planning benefits, but be sure to take specialist, regulated advice to do what’s right for you.

With Brexit bringing such a seismic shift in the landscape, it has never been more important to ensure your financial arrangements are compliant and suitable for your life in France. A specialist, locally-based adviser is best placed to help you take advantage of suitable opportunities here and secure financial peace of mind for you and your family.

Blevins Franks is fully authorised to provide advice in France.  Our financial advisers live and work locally and have in-depth knowledge of the local tax and succession regimes and common issues faced by UK expatriates. Contact us to discuss how we can help you with your investments, pensions and cross-border tax and estate planning.

By Rob Kay, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks

Blevins Franks accepts no liability for any loss resulting from any action or inaction or omission as a result of reading this article, which is general in nature and not specific to your circumstances.

Blevins Franks Group is represented in France by the following companies:  Blevins Franks Wealth Management Limited (BFWML) and Blevins Franks France SASU (BFF). BFWML is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority, registered number C 92917. Authorised to conduct investment services under the Investment Services Act and authorised to carry out insurance intermediary activities under the Insurance Distribution Act. Where advice is provided outside of Malta via the Insurance Distribution Directive or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the applicable regulatory system differs in some respects from that of Malta. BFWML also provides taxation advice; its tax advisers are fully qualified tax specialists.  Blevins Franks France SASU (BFF), is registered with ORIAS, registered number 07 027 475, and authorised as ‘Conseil en Investissements Financiers’ and ‘Courtiers d’Assurance’ Category B (register can be consulted on www.orias.fr). Member of ANACOFI-CIF. BFF’s registered office: 1 rue Pablo Neruda, 33140 Villenave d’Ornon – RCS BX 498 800 465 APE 6622Z.  Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier and L512-6 and 512-7 du Code des Assurances (assureur MMA). Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of retirement schemes. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFWML.

You can find other financial advisory articles by visiting our website here

St Tropez House and Cap Villas Feature - How COVID-19 Changed Affluent Travel in the South of France & Beyond

High-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth travellers have been more willing to make plans despite Coronavirus restrictions, showing a heightened resilience thanks to their affluence and heightened experience of travelling. Insight from global travel network Virtuoso shows that wealthy travellers are more comfortable with booking holidays as normal and simply waiting to see whether they can go.

This perhaps explains why St Tropez holiday rental agency St Tropez House noticed a 28% growth in rentals from 2019 to 2020, despite COVID-19 meaning that travel and holiday rental was out of the question for a significant part of the year.

Let’s compare this to the occupation rate in 4 and 5 star hotels in France, which experienced a 26.1% drop when comparing from October 2019 and October 2020, according to data from specialist firm MKG. This is likely due to the close proximity that people are in while staying in a hotel, when compared to a private villa with plenty of its own land.

How businesses enticed clients
Both St Tropez House and French Riviera holiday let agency Cap Villas report that in order to encourage bookings and allow clients to view accommodation in a safe way, luxury travel businesses all over the world had to rethink their marketing strategies to make them COVID-proof.

This has seen the introduction of 360° videos to better display features and entice clients, social media Ask Me Anything sessions replacing client lunches, and digital tours replacing physical ones, to name just a few changes.

Length of stay
The average length of stay at St Tropez House’s rental properties has grown compared to last year. In 2019, the average stay was two weeks, while in 2020 the average stay was 3.5 weeks, likely indicating people wanting to make the most of their holiday in a time when many of us didn't know when our next chance to escape would be. St Tropez House also noticed something it had never experienced before: certain clients who had already booked extending their stay, on average by 25% compared to the original length of their stay.

This correlates with information from Virtuoso, which says that HNW holidayers have been booking short stays for working vacations with their families and then extending as restrictions change and they perhaps realise there is no point rushing back, with the extra financial cost being no problem.

Cancellations
The uncertainty of 2020 has led to a change in the contracts of many businesses in the luxury travel industry working with HNW and UHNWIs. Companies such as yacht charter agencies, villa let businesses and hotels have felt pressure to modify their contracts to allow clients to rebook or cancel their holidays as needed in the light of the pandemic.

Both Cap Villas and St Tropez House updated their policies on cancellation, and an investigation by Elite Traveller shows that the vast majority of luxury hotel groups also updated their cancellation rules during the COVID-19 crisis, in order to ensure guests did not lose out financially.

St Tropez House witnessed an increase in cancellations in 2020, rising from one in ten in 2019 to three in ten last year. Out of these, 70% of St Tropez House’s holiday rental clients were moved to 2021 and 30% were simply refunded. The vast majority of cancellations came from the UK, where the situation seemed to be most volatile due to ever-changing restrictions.

Transport
Some 35% of St Tropez House clients came by private jet during COVID times - a significant increase from 15% in 2019, driven by the wish to travel safely and avoid being in the same space as other travellers

This aligns with data from private jet firms such as VistaJet, which charters private jets through a membership program and reported that July 2020 saw a 320% increase in new memberships compared to July 2019. Fractional jet ownership business NetJets also reported that between January and October 2020 they saw three times as many new customers as the same period in 2019.

Nationality of HNW travellers
St Tropez House noticed that no clients from the USA, Russia, Middle East, South America - nationalities who do typically book its holiday lets in the South of France - booked to stay in 2020.

Instead, St Tropez House saw an influx of more local clients, likely because it was easier to make the journey due to proximity and travel corridors. For example, the number of clients coming from nearby Monaco rose by 250%, while there was an 80% rise in those coming from Switzerland.

This correlates with a wider uptick in staycations in the luxury market, with many feeling their way back into travelling through more local holidays (according to Hong Kong Tatler).

New priorities

When looking for villas, both Cap Villas and St Tropez House clients in 2020 prioritised privacy and a larger land. Many were essentially looking for a ‘quarantine villa’ - somewhere they could hunker down with their bubble and enjoy a bigger space and change of scene. As such, Cap Villas and St Tropez House spotted new trends in demands for online shopping and private chefs, avoiding the need for clients to ever leave their holiday property.

Rumble Romagnoli, president of luxury digital agency Relevance, which specialises in targeting UHNW clients, confirms that demands for these convenient enjoy-at-home services is something he has seen across multiple clients in the travel and hospitality industry. This can be compared to previous years, where priorities from St Tropez House and Cap Villas guests have included a close proximity to the town centre, restaurants and boutiques.

Cosette Cutrara, Client Relations Manager at Cap Villas, says:
“In the midst of COVID 19 we have witnessed some unprecedented shifts in villa rentals along the French Riviera. Not only has our client demographic changed dramatically to be mostly European but also their criteria has changed, for example fully staffed villas have become more sought after than ever before.”

Emilia Jedamska, Booking Manager at St Tropez House, says:
“My high-net worth clients are moving further and further away from hotels and requesting villas for longer periods of time and with more spacious land, creating their own private oasis separated from the outside world.”

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Photography ©Tom Claeren