Tag: Australia

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Sotheby’s Expands into Egypt and Australia

Sotheby’s International Realty today announced the opening of Egypt Sotheby’s International Realty, signifying the brand’s second office in Northern Africa and its 206th office in the EMEIA region.

Egypt Sotheby’s International Realty is co-founded and operated by Marwan Gebril who brings 15 years of real estate experience to the company. The company is headquartered in the city of Cairo and will service the entire country, including the city of Sheikh Zayed, a top development area, and Arkan, the country’s up-and-coming retail landmark.

“Luxury real estate has been on the rise in Egypt, with hidden gems being uncovered across the country’s expansive and varied terrains,” said Philip White, president and CEO of Sotheby’s International Realty. “Major public investment, including infrastructure upgrades in Cairo, have further primed the country for growth in the sector. I am proud of our continued expansion in the region, and I look forward to supporting Marwan and the entire Egypt Sotheby’s International Realty team.”

“Over the past decade, we’ve seen the rise and demand for branded serviced residences, signature projects, and boutique complexes in Egypt,” said Gebril. “It is clear that Egypt will  play a much bigger role in the region as a key luxury real estate destination and investment hub. Our firm is primed for such industry growth as the only luxury real estate firm in the country, and our affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty enables us to capitalize on this growing demand on a global level.”

The office currently has 30 sales associates with plans for continued expansion. Egyptian properties offer proximity to some of the world’s oldest monuments, artifacts, and historic towns, in addition to lifestyle interests, such as world-class diving and golf.

Sotheby’s International Realty today announced its expanding presence in Australia with the opening of the Byron Bay office in New South Wales. The addition marks the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s 11th affiliated office in Australia.

The office is owned by Michael Pallier who is also managing director for Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty. The new location will be led by James McCowan and will operate as Byron Bay Sotheby’s International Realty.

“With its stunning natural attractions and eclectic community, Byron Bay has become one of the world’s most famous coastal towns,” said Philip White, president and CEO, Sotheby’s International Realty. “Due to its popularity, we are seeing increased interest from ex-pats and high-net-worth individuals from New Zealand, Australia, and the Asia-Pacific region, and the prices of homes have risen by more than 20%, according to local records. The addition of the Byron Bay office enables the company to further service their clients in New South Wales, and I am thrilled to support their growth.”

“We saw an opportunity to break into the rural and lifestyle real estate sector of Byron Bay and its surrounds,” said Pallier. “While the real estate market is highly competitive, we understand our clients’ properties were once livelihoods or dream homes, and we want to represent that as best as we can. Our company provides solid real estate knowledge, a tailored level of service, and global marketing opportunities through our affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty.”

Prior to the opening of the Byron Bay office, Michael and James have had a 25-year history of working together, where they launched Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty 10 years ago and have consistently broken sales records for many significant luxury homes and rural properties.

The Sotheby’s International Realty® network currently has nearly 26,000 affiliated independent sales associates located in over 1,000 offices in 81 countries and territories worldwide. Byron Bay Sotheby’s International Realty listings are marketed on the sothebysrealty.com global website. In addition to the referral opportunities and widened exposure generated from this source, the firm’s brokers and clients will benefit from an association with Sotheby’s auction house and worldwide Sotheby’s International Realty marketing programs. Each office is independently owned and operated.

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NOTABLE WILDLIFE-VIEWING DESTINATIONS AROUND THE WORLD

Appears in RESIDE Magazine.

Rare is the global traveler’s bucket list that doesn’t include a safari. And while many nature lovers associate world-class wildlife viewing with Africa, a growing number of international operators and destination resorts offer compelling alternatives. Here’s a look at notable options around the globe.

Australia

A walaroo in Northern Territory, Australia

Australia’s Northern Territory lures adventurous types with untouched nature and close, respectful access to aboriginal culture. A pair of environmentally friendly safari operators provide a range of wildlife-viewing experiences in the northern, tropical Top End region.

Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris focuses on Mount Borradaile, an aboriginal sacred site owned and managed by its custodians, the Amurdak people. Options include bird-watching expeditions and a wetlands cruise with crocodile spotting. Guests can also spend the night in an eco-lodge or cabin located in a natural bush setting.

Bamurru Plains is an eco-friendly, luxury safari lodge with exclusive access to 74,000 acres of floodplains and savanna woodland around the Mary River, on the edge of Kakadu National Park.Ten bungalows overlook the floodplains and feature mesh walls, providing close access to ever-present wildlife.

A safari in India’s Baghvan

India

Taj Hotels—India’s most iconic luxury hotel brand—maintains four safari lodges, each offering twice-daily safaris and unique, culturally minded guest experiences. Each is dedicated to conservation and eco-friendly behavior.

Mahua Kothi offers a variety of nature-spotting experiences. Animal lovers hop into open 4×4 vehicles to cruise around looking for Bandhavgarh National Park’s famous Royal Bengal tigers, white tigers, and leopards.

Baghvan attracts travelers drawn to Pench National Park, which inspired Rudyard Kipling’s iconic The Jungle Book. Guests explore Pench’s teak-filled jungles in search of tigers and other elusive creatures.

Tucked into a rocky outcrop near Panna National Park, Pashan Garh offers views of the Vindhya Hills and 200 acres of private jungle. When not relaxing in the dozen well-appointed cottages, safari-goers enjoy sightings of tigers, crocodiles, and wildly colorful birds. Cultural-minded travelers take a break from nature to visit the Khajuraho group of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain temples, one of India’s most fascinating Unesco World Heritage sites.

Banjaar Tola overlooks Kanha National Park and offers an opulent glamping experience in one of 18 tented suites. Kanha is one of the largest and best-maintained of India’s national parks, as well as one of the first Indian tiger reserves aimed at protecting the fierce felines and their ecosystems.

A view of Intrepid Travel’s Borneo safari

Borneo

Intrepid Travel, the world’s largest adventure-travel company, offers a 12-day Sabah Adventure, which packs in the many natural wonders found in Sabah, a Malaysian state located on the northern portion of Borneo. Besides visiting some of the region’s hot springs and tribal villages, participants catch glimpses of rainforest wildlife, such as tigers, elephants, and orangutans. Also included is a visit to Turtle Island Marine Park, where sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs every night.

Norway

Intrepid’s Spitsbergen Explorer thrills adventurers who jump at the chance to visit arctic Spitsbergen, the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in northern Norway. Beyond exploring windswept polar deserts, cliff-lined shores, and imposing fjords via hiking, snowshoeing, or kayaking, participants keep an eye out for polar bears hunting along the ice sheets, plus walruses, reindeer, Arctic foxes, and vast colonies of rare seabirds.

Angama Mara in Africa

Kenya

Towering above the Maasai Mara—arguably the most famous safari destination in Africa—Angama Mara contains two separate camps, each with 15 tented suites, on the edge of a scenic escarpment, where some of the most famous scenes from the 1985 film Out of Africa were shot. Suites feature 30-foot-wide, floor-to-ceiling windows, and guests can use binoculars to view elephants and water buffalo. And guests rest easy knowing that part of their payment goes toward conservation.