This interview is with ANTONELLA D'ANGELO, CEO, NCG EXPERIENCE.
Antonella, as CEO of NCG Experience in luxury leisure, travel, and tourism, how do you introduce your expertise at the crossroads of contract law, intellectual property, compliance, and UHNW client finance?
My expertise in luxury travel focuses on protecting bespoke experiences and ensuring seamless, compliant financial arrangements. I help our clients and partners navigate complex agreements, safeguard distinctive brand experiences, and optimize liquidity and governance for UHNW portfolios, delivering exquisite, stress-free journeys.
What pivotal experiences shaped your journey from launching a bespoke concierge service to leading a multi‑market luxury travel company?
My journey began with launching a bespoke concierge service built on anticipating every detail for UHNW clients. I learned that extraordinary experiences demand scalable governance on the right contracts, protected IP for signature concepts, rigorous compliance, and finance structures that meet private banking standards.
As we expanded into multi-market programs, we built playbooks that preserve exclusivity and privacy while navigating diverse regulations and currencies. Today, I lead a multi-market luxury travel company where craft meets governance. We design unforgettable experiences that are legally strong, prudent, and very discreet for our UHNW clients.
In owner, charter, and guest agreements for villas, yachts, and destination events, which single contract clause has most improved alignment and risk allocation in your deals?
The single clause that has consistently improved alignment and risk allocation across our deals is a structured “Governance, Roles, and Dependencies” clause combined with explicit risk allocation for key contingencies.
Governance and Dependencies. The parties agree that the success of the program depends on timely collaboration across all service providers, owners, and guests. A single governance framework governs decisions, with a designated Program Lead for each villa, yacht, and destination event. Any material change to scope, schedule, or budget shall be approved by the Program Lead within 10 days. A Dependencies Schedule, as Exhibit, identifies responsible parties, lead times, and remedies for delays or interdependencies. In the event of a delay in any critical dependency, the default remedy shall be a proportional extension of timelines, with credits or liquidated damages calibrated to the impact on guest experience, not less than XXX and not more than XXX per day of delay.
When collaborating with influencers, photographers, or media, what IP and compensation terms do you insist on to ensure clear usage rights and brand protection?
When NCG collaborates with influencers, photographers, or media for villas, yachts, and destination events, we want IP and compensation terms that are clear, guard the NCG brand, and ensure flexible, predictable use across global markets.
Operating across borders, what process helps you stay compliant with local licensing, short‑term rental rules, safety and sustainability standards, and advertising disclosure requirements?
Standardized operating playbooks: we developed modular, repeatable SOPs for licensing filings, guest screening, safety checks, sustainability certifications, and advertising disclosures.
It includes checklists, budgets, timelines, and responsible roles to ensure consistency while accommodating local nuances.
For UHNW client confidentiality, what practices do you rely on to safeguard personal data and NDAs while coordinating third‑party vendors?
The practices we rely on are the following:
- Data governance and minimization with data mapping, purpose limitation, and data minimization.
- Access control and need-to-know.
- Data security measures and data segregation.
- NDAs and contractual safeguards.
- Vendor governance and third-party coordination.
- Privacy and crisis management.
For six‑ and seven‑figure itineraries, what payment, escrow, or milestone‑release structure has proven most effective at balancing supplier commitments with client protection?
Upfront deposits are typically 70% to secure bookings and cover vendor commitments.
Use an escrow holdback with objective acceptance criteria.
Implement a holdback for performance risk.
Establish a clear waterfall and remedies.
Provide transparent fee accounting for separate supplier costs, logistics, and contingencies.
For clients considering purchasing property abroad after renting first, what financial and legal checkpoints must be cleared before you would green‑light a purchase?
Due diligence clearance on checking title validity, encumbrances, local ownership restrictions, and tax residency implications.
Tax review.
Source of funds, loan eligibility, currency risk, and impact on UHNW liquidity needs.
Compliance and regulatory screening on anti-money laundering.
Risk assessment on market volatility, property title risks, and enforcement of contracts.
Ongoing holding costs (maintenance, taxes, insurance).
Exit strategy.
Client privacy and fiduciary safeguards.
As a founder managing seasonality and cross‑currency cash flows, what personal finance or wealth‑management habit has most strengthened your resilience?
We maintain buffers in our primary operating currencies, along with a hedged or diversified exposure for key markets to smooth seasonal swings.
We compare actual cash flow and FX impacts, adjusting allocations and hedges proactively.
Our personal finance habit is automated, occurring on the first Monday of every month. We work with our advisor to reallocate liquidity and ensure that private bank governance aligns with business cycles.