Popular Summer Vacation Spots for CEOs

Summer vacations are about to unfold in earnest, and many CEOs like to come up with new or different getaway spots so they can really enjoy their time away from the office – and, in some cases, to ensure that they take time away from their jobs!

Here’s a sampling of favorite, planned or hoped-for summer vacation spots by CEOs for themselves and their families, including a good number of chiefs of hospitality brands, who have the inside track on the best places.

Inle Lake, Myanmar
Ninan Chacko, CEO of Travel Leaders Group recommends “destinations that are as different as possible from your home” to “challenge the mind” and “create understanding and appreciation for the destination and your home too.” Specifically, he likes Inle Lake in Myanmar which, he said, “functions somewhat as a time machine” because it was isolated for more than 60 years, and New Zealand, which “has something for everyone.”

Lake Rabun, North Georgia
Mike DeFrino, CEO of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is taking his family, along with two others—nine kids altogether—to Lake Rabun in North Georgia, which offers waterskiing, wakeboarding, paddling and taking one-mile swims before cocktail hour, the 16gh year in a row vacationing with the same crew. And he may try to “swing a week in Nantucket in August” as well.

Jade Mountain Resort in St.Lucia
Nicholas Falcone, CEO of NDM Hospitality said he and his wife are “fans of tropical destinations” and they don’t get any better than Jade Mountain Resort in St.Lucia, with wilderness views in every room overlooking the Grand Pitons and a butler with each rental. He also likes Sunset Key in Key West, Fla., which offers the benefits of isolation in its two- and three-bedroom cottages but is just a three-minute ferry ride from the buzz of Key West proper.

Washington, D.C.
Kevin Klock, president and CEO of Talking Rain Beverage is family-oriented and enjoys traditional great American destinations including Hawaii, Alaska and national parks. This summer’s family vacation will take in Washington, D.C., to teach his kids some of their “American heritage.”

Cancun, Mexico
Doug Knittle, founder and CEO of Travoom.com says that “this summer’s top travel destinations for any CEO’s bucket list include Mexico, Hawaii, Maldives, and the South of France.” But personally, he’s planning on “venturing to Tulum for the Mayan ruins and amazing restaurants, Kauai [for] some of the best beaches in Hawaii, and Napa Valley to visit the vineyards pre-harvest.”

Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire
Tim Ryan, chairman of PwC U.S., has six children, so he favors family-friendly places and tries out somewhere different each summer. This year’s destination is Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, one of America’s most famous inland ponds.

Cruising the Coast of Turkey
M’lou Walker, CEO of Zicam plans to take her large, blended family of seven adolescents on a cruise in a “gullet” off the coast of Turkey. “We’ll be forced to relax, away from all the technology, and just enjoy each other’s company,” she said, combining “sun and water fun with sightseeing and natural beauty” as well as “the chance to learn about a new culture, visit places of historical importance and get downtime in the sun.”