Born on safari in Zambia, Geoffrey Kent’s life seemed destined for travel. So, it came as no surprise when Kent co-founded Abercrombie & Kent with his parents in 1962. Since then, Abercrombie & Kent has become the premier company for bespoke luxury travel. Affluent Page Magazine had the pleasure of catching up with Mr. Kent during his travels in Monaco.

What inspired the creation of Abercrombie & Kent?

Well, my family lived on a farm in the highlands of Kenya. Growing up there, my whole life was a safari. I basically lived in the bush, until I was 15. At the age of 16 I drove my motorcycle from Narobi, to Capetown – the first person to ever do so.

After high school, I joined the Royal Military Academy, and became a professional British Army officer. From there I joined the wonderful 5^th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guard. They were an incredible regiment – full of charisma and style.

So really, Abercrombie & Kent was inspired by my experiences of travel, style, elegance, and logistics.

Along with your parents, you helped found the organization; what can one learn when working with family?

Experience. My mom and dad instilled a wealth of great experiences. My father, especially, from his extensive trips through Africa. My son now is actually the President and COO of the company, but we are all different in our own ways. That is why we believe it is important to maximize our strengths, and learn from each other.

It has been said that every spot on the globe has been discovered. If that is true, how do you guarantee a unique experience?

Simple – do it differently. We have 62 global offices. Each one of our global office is run by the local country. For instance, South Africa runs the South African office; Australia runs the Australian office, and so on. We have applied this system, because they know their country better than anyone else.

Each office collects information, and then distributes it out to the customer. So, in actuality the office is a manufacturer of experiences for the clientele.

In addition, every global office has created 25 to 40, “Insider Access” programs – an experience you cannot Google. For example, one of the global offices offers lunch with local government politicians.

What should a man search for in a travel experience?

The most important thing is to have an experience that changes your life. We do not want to offer just another tall present, we want to change minds. Within that people look for a piece of mind, such as, “are all the logistics taken care of”. No one should have worry about the status of their luggage during travel.

Are there any countries that you have not established a trip within, that you would like to?

Well, the city of Gabon has incredible beaches, and wild life like gorillas and elephants. Perhaps, we could also be creating trips to space, with the technology in the next 20 years. Aside from that, countries like Bolivia, Columbia, and Vietnam have all recently garnered a lot of attention that interests us.

Could you please explain your latest innovation: Extreme Adventures?

Two years ago, I was racing Ferraris with some friends and thought, “there must be a way we can incorporate this buzz into our trips.” So, with Extreme Adventures we created an experience that provides the younger clients with that rush.

As the co-founder of the premier travel experience company, constant travel seems imminent.

Of course, we always make sure to test the experience for ourselves. If the trip turns out be worthwhile and the conditions are acceptable, we will create the adventure.

Is there anything you must travel with?

I never want to lose touch, so my Nokia Satellite phone is must. On top of that, I always joke that I bring my White Truffle Oil, because it makes everything taste better.

I have read that Abercrombie & Kent uses a biplane for one of their Kenyan expeditions.

Yes, the WACO biplane. There is nothing better than taking off on a strip in the desert and flying low against the landscape. I have never been happy with the ordinary. Honestly, I could think of nothing more boring than relaxing on the deck of a luxury cruise ship for days. I would much rather be in our Zambia Camp canoeing next to hippos and crocodiles, fishing for tiger fish, and walking with buffalo and elephants.

So, other than the WACO biplane, what are some of the other notable vehicles Abercrombie & Kent use?

There is our top-of-the-line helicopter, which has had the doors removed for an up close experience of a lion’s kill. We also have our MV ‘Le Boreal’ adventure cruise, which takes our clientele through the surrounding waters of Antarctica.

The Abercrombie & Kent is a wonderful organization. Can you explain the current efforts of the visits and travel?

Since, 1982 we have been involved with philanthropy. Each of our 62 global offices actually use a dual track – one for philanthropy and one for travel. The program is in place to help cultures flourish in education, environment, and heath. Through each program we have been able to create schools, conservation clubs, community cultivations, and tree planting services.

I will give you one example: when the cyclone destroyed much of the delta region of Myanmar, we were able to contact back to our clientele. In our collective efforts, we were able to fundraise over $540,000, which was immediately used for critical supplies. While most could not get through the “red tape” around the borders, we were able to effectively get supplies to the proper areas, due to our local Myanmar branch.

How can a man learn about himself through travel?

In the early 1960’s I use to personally run African safaris for families, such as, the Rockefellers. One of the men once told me that, “lying in that green tent at night, life becomes simple.”

Travel makes people more aware of where they came from. Secondly, travel gets people in touch with people; cultures in touch with cultures. It creates a 3^rd dimension of life, which produces a global understanding. I truly believe that if we, as people, were able to travel more, there would be far less issues in this world.

[Abercrombie & Kent]

Born September 2, 1959 in Quebec, Canada, Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil, was once a college bound kid with aspirations that outshone his peers. However, quickly growing tired of college, Laliberte put all his faith in his skills as an acrobat. Laliberte’s new life consisted of roaming the streets of Europe and Canada and picking up contortionists and musicians who enjoyed a similar lifestyle. Laliberte soon formed a small troop of acrobats with unusual talents and they supported themselves by putting on street performances and earning petty cash.

In 1984, once Laliberte assembled a full staff of talented performers, the team went to the Los Angeles for the legendary Arts Festival.

Laliiberte went on performing in Los Angeles continued to amount a small profit, until casino mogul and millionaire Steve Wynn witnessed Laliberte’s current troupe. Wynn brought the incredible performers to Las Vegas and offered Laliberte and his performers a chance at stardom. This visionary caught the attention of his audience by combining cultural themes with never before seen acrobatics. Each performance involved revolutionary acrobatics, among the backdrop of a storay.

With his notorious risk-taking, it is not surprising that he is also a professional poker player. He is a member of the online poker website Full Tilt Poker, where he places bets for over $17 million, as well as a regular on the Las Vegas strip.

In addition, Laliberte is also a major philanthropist. In 2007, he launched the One Drop Foundation to fight poverty by giving people access to water. This same year he was also awarded the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year in Quebec, Canada and Internationally. In 2009, he spent over $25 million and became the first Canadian space explorer. The mission was intended to raise awareness on Earth’s water crisis.

It is estimated that Laliberte now employs over 4,000 people and puts on 19 shows in over 271 cities. The Las Vegas show alone plays to over 9,000 people each night and over 70 million people in the world have seen a Cirque du Soleil performance. Laliberte has expanded his horizons beyond live shows and he now has television licenses and corporate sponsorships. Cirque du Soleil brings in an annual revenue well over $810 million.

In 2011 Laliberte plans on producing a performance centered on the life and music of the legend Michael Jackson. He has overcome many obstacles and put a lot on the line to become one of only 680 self-made billionaires in the world.

[Cirque du Soleil]

Formerly in the possession of Mal Evans, the Beatles famous road manager, the song was described by the New York Times as “one of the most important Lennon-McCartney compositions… a historic Pop event.” The document, which is double-sided, gives a timeline of this famous song from its conception to the final lyrics that were sang in the recording studio, complete with cross-outs, corrections, and re-writes. This sheet of paper provides fascinating insight into the songwriting dynamic between Lennon and McCartney, showing where he would insert his livelier and upbeat stanzas that contrasted with Lennon’s typical drab style.

The final track of the Beatles’ legendary 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, “A Day in the Life” was one of the most controversial songs in history. Sparked by that controversy, the Beatles catapulted up the charts and this song is said to be the one that marked them as true artists instead of just pop icons. First airing on June 1, 1967, it was considered one of the crowning achievements of not only the Beatles but pop music itself, and helped define it as one of the most influential movements of the 20th century.
This polarizing song was heavily criticized for its morbid tone and advocacy of drug use. The line “I’d love to turn you on,” caused it to be banned by the BBC, who felt it encouraged narcotic use; it was the first song to be censored by a national radio network in the UK. Several Asian countries removed the song from the track list. Another line, “he blew his mind out in a car,” is said to have referenced the tragic death of Guinness heir Tara Brown, who was a close personal friend of both Lennon and McCartney.

Contrasting with these morbid words was the seemingly meaningless line “4,000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire,” which described an unusual North West England traffic scheme. Featuring prominent use of classical instruments within the melody, this song contains a depth that was largely absent from earlier Beatles’ tracks. Q Magazine ranked it one of the 50 greatest British Songs of All Time, and it sits at number 26 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.

Perhaps the band’s most successful album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band topped both the US and UK charts and won four Grammy awards in 1968.

Early estimate for this handwritten piece of pop culture history is $500,000 to $700,000.

Stuart Miller may have had the footprints to success but he certainly paved his own way to the top. Miller earned the acclaimed award of America’s most powerful people by Forbes in 2000.

Born in 1957 to father Leonard Miller (founder, Lennar Corporation), Stuart began mowing the lawns of Lennar’s model homes at age eleven. From an early age, Stuart was not interested in hand-me-downs. After mowing lawns, he began working on his father’s construction sites in order to save up money to buy his own car.

In 1979, Miller earned his BS from Harvard University and in 1982 he received his JD from the University of Miami. Stuart became president, CEO, and director of the Fortune 500 Lennar Corporation, a homebuilder and provider of financial services. In 1997, Lennar formed LNR Property Corporation, where Miller sat as chairman of the board. Stuart was responsible of the massive growth and success of Lennar, which turned it into one of the most profitable companies of the century. By 2004, Lennar had annual revenues of $6 billion. Stuart was innovative, highly motivated and an opportunist.

In 2006, Miller purchased his seven-bedroom $27-million mansion, which sits on one of Miami’s most exclusive private islands – Star Island – where he enjoys a life of luxury and exclusivity. This island is so elite it is only home to 32 residences including Sean Combs, Gloria Estafan, Rosie O’Donnel and Alex Rodriguez. The purchase of this home was the biggest sale on the island, which set a record for Miami Beach. His home sits on three one-acre lots and 300 feet of waterfront.

Stuart’s hard work has paid off and he now enjoys extravagant fishing trips with his friends and often attends glamorous charity events from Miami to Washington D.C.

Founded in 1906, Montblanc International has been regarded as the premier brand in writing instruments. Their first model premiered in 1909, but Montblanc truly came into their own with the release of the Meisterstuck pen. Still considered one of the most popular writing instruments in the world, a version of their Meisterstuck pens are now offered in their latest innovation: Personal Code Ink.

Affluent Page recently had the privilege of being able to sit down with Mr. Jan-Patrick Schmitz, CEO Montblanc North America to gain a deeper understanding of the Montblanc tradition.

How did you start your career at Montblanc?

Well that would have to go back 15 years ago, to 1994. I started in Hamburg, Germany; where actually Montblanc was started in 1906. We have not moved our headquarters since. Well, starting in the finance field, I moved from Hamburg to Japan, and eventually to America.

What are the noticeable differences from when you started at Montblanc and now?

The 104-year history, along with my 15 years has been a constant journey. We have made tremendous steps within our evolution to become a diversified luxury brand. Since the beginning we have created a house and now we are just adding pillows, with the addition of Montblanc’s fine leather, watch, and jewelry divisions.

However, even though we have consistently evolved, there are still steadfast traditions. The technology of cell phones will become obsolete within 12 months, whereas classic black writing has been enjoyed for generations. For instance, the Meisterstuck was created in 1924 and remains the most popular writing instrument in the world.

What do you believe has contributed to your success within Montblanc?

My success has been due to the longevity and clear perspective of our brand. There is a clear difference between a brand and a company. Brands create items that encompass meaning.

Our customers trust that we are a ship directed towards a destination. While there is always opportunistic dollars on the top lane, we have steered clear from those traps. In addition, we are highly motivated to providing an experience, which creates an emotional connection.

What was the inspiration behind Montblanc’s newest creation: Personal Code Ink?

We were inspired to make communication personal. Modern communication is a convenient way to get from point A to point B, but it is not personal. At least, not a form you would send with sincere recognition.

However, the most personal forms of communication are face-to-face dialogue and the written word. For the Personal Code Ink, we wanted to incorporate the time of personal communication, and take it to the ultimate level. The same way a tailored suit is made to fit the body, the Personal Code Ink fits the individual. We were not inspired by the ability to use DNA technology, but by the personalization of the product.

We have been told several times to wake up and use the modern technology, but we have found a way to use modern innovation within the context of our brand. I like to believe that today’s innovation is tomorrow’s tradition.

With Montblanc’s constant innovation in technology, how does a company stay ahead in life and luxury?

The important thing is to establish luxury with value. We aspire to craft a product expressed in the brand image, while taking into account the emotions of the customer. In order to generate a product such as this, it is imperative not to create for the short life. Not to speak against fashion, but what is “in” in the summer of 2010 will become obsolete by 2012.

The items on the desk in front of you are there out of functionality. You do not truly remember where you bought them or who gave them to you, however, a Montblanc item you remember forever.

Can you expand on the constant globalization of Montblanc?

Our goal is to consistently alert our customers. Currently, our customers would be considered in the affluent category – avid travelers, successful business men and women.

The Montblanc experience is now a brand operating in all major countries. We actually have 360 boutiques worldwide. Whereas, some companies worldwide may differ, each our boutique offers the same experience.

Are there any similarities between the writing industry and the watch industry?

Very much so. Huge similarities, actually. The Montblanc brand is a concentric circle. They are both analog technologies, traditional forms of instruments, hand crafted, and presented to an individual for a significant moment. The customer is also very much the same. Although people purchase iPhones, they still gravitate towards the technology of a watch.

That seems to be true. Why do you think that is?

I believe it is the Ying and Yang of technology. If an individual were to open an iPhone, he or she would not be able to grasp the technological performance. Where the iPhone is constructed out of 0’s and 1’s, the watch allows the individual to visually grasp the performance of the movement.

As the icon of the writing industry, is there anything that continues to challenge you?

Well building a brand is journey, and it important to realize that there is no true arrival. There are no future plans to enter in any other categories; however, we still stick to our traditional goals of staying conscious to our customer’s experience. The experience is built upon the relationship of customers and the conveyance of our message. This relationship is what has given Montblanc the ability to remain in familial value lines forever.

What do the future plans hold for Montblanc?

We just launched the Metamorphosis watch. The watch is unlike any other watch in history. The technology of two rotating faces, amongst other features has never been used in history.

Other than that, we intend to cautiously create, push the envelope, experience, and never stand still.

As the CEO of one of luxury’s most prominent companies, how do you remind yourself to live in the moment?

When I look into the eyes of my children every day. We have to remember to hold significant moments. These are just the big moments, but the small elements we encounter every day. The perfect balance is to honor the journey and success of Montblanc’s 104-year history, while appreciating my personal experiences.

Actually, one of my most prized possessions is a Montblanc Fountain Tip Pen my father gave me when I received my Master’s Degree. I hope to continue the circle, by passing it down to my son one day.

[Montblanc]