Celebrating our partnership with Nobu Ibiza Bay and Ibiza Preservation, alongside launching our expanded 'Sea Weave' collection, we were thrilled to catch up with Edwin Kramer, General Manager at Nobu Ibiza Bay. Bringing 25 years of international luxury hotels and lifestyle hotel experience in Europe, North America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, in both urban and resort hotels. His postcard to us offers an insight into some of his favourite travelling moments and tells us the secrets of his successes so far in running this chic hotel on the shores of Talamanca Bay.
What is your most meaningful, exciting or stand-out memory of travel?
I’ve been lucky to have had parents living in Asia and Africa for a decade and a half, allowing me to travel to far-flung places, and I have lived in ten countries myself for work. Travel has opened my eyes to adapt to and be part of so many wonderful cultures. But, one trip stands out: foreseeing a midlife crisis coming up at 40, a friend and I proactively purchased a 20-year-old ambulance, fitted it out with beds, sirens, a fridge and a bag full of useful stuff from the Pound Shop, raised 25k for children’s charities and drove the completely unsuited vehicle 16,000 km’s through 20 countries to Mongolia where maps were useless, rivers needed to be crossed and breakdowns were daily practice. The vehicle, loaded with purchased spare parts, was donated to a children’s hospital when we got to Ulaanbaatar. It’s hopefully still assisting in saving lives. The adventures from Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Siberia and Mongolia in particular, should make it into a short story one day.
What is your most memorable moment with wildlife? Any close shaves?
I hung out in Bali a lot in the early 90s. Getting robbed by monkeys over and over again was not cool. I remember snorkelling in the Gili´s in 1991 opened my eyes to the magic and diversity of the seas.
Sunset at Nobu Ibiza Bay
What's your idea of a perfect holiday?
A combination of sunrises and sunsets, culture and nothingness, in shorts and t-shirt, with loved ones and local, unfussy food.
What does sustainability mean to you?
Start with yourself. Every bit helps and is and can be part of a larger movement. Help others understand.
If you had to choose, where is your favourite place on earth (so far)?
Just before lockdown, February 2020 I spent in Sri Lanka. Pretty magical and the most recent memory of exciting far-away travel. More and soon, please!
Railway Bridge in Sri Lanka
Looking back on your successes what piece of advice would you share?
Do what you love, with passion and sincerity.