The Concierge

This week we come to you from Tokyo, bringing you the best that Japan has to offer. Monocle’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, is on the line from Bangkok to enlighten us about his recent trips to Japan, while Robert Bound travels to the Izu peninsula to meet the surfers of Shirahama beach. Also in the programme: Danielle Demetriou speaks to Katrina Uy, general manager of Kyoto’s Shinmonzen hotel. Plus, Fiona Wilson and Chloe Potter are on hand to answer listeners’ questions.

This week, Domonkos Kékesi, concierge at Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, shines a light on Basel and Rob Bound speaks to Max Aniort, co-founder of Le Collectionist. Also in the programme: Monocle’s Tom Webb takes us on a tour of Portofino, Fernando Augusto Pacheco celebrates the centenary of Rio’s Copacabana Palace, owned by the Belmond group, and we hear the latest aviation news from Murdo Morrison of Flightglobal.

Tyler Brûlé speaks to Andrea Kracht, the sixth-generation owner of Zürich’s Baur au Lac hotel. Also in the programme, we meet Adrian Moore, assistant chef concierge at the Mandarin Oriental in Paris, and Ivan Carvalho heads to the inaugural edition of Porto’s Wine & Travel Week. Plus: Chris Cermak explores the new flagship location of the Waldorf Astoria in Washington.

Monocle’s Gaia Lutz treks across Chile’s Atacama Desert, Iain Ainsworth of The Aficionados tells us about his favourite stays in Europe, Christopher Lord sends us a letter from Newport, Rhode Island, and private concierge Cristina Bally joins us to talk all things hospitality. Plus: the latest travel news with Zina Bencheikh of Intrepid Travel.

Hannah Lucinda Smith takes us on a culinary tour of the vibrant neighbourhood of Kadikoy in Istanbul and Gregory Scruggs visits the newly renovated Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria, Oregon. We ask Steve Allen, Group CEO of Dnata, how the aviation industry is handling recent surging travel demands. Plus: Monocle’s Vienna Correspondent, Alexei Korolyov, has the latest travel news.