André Balazs looked casually confident as he landed on Crescent Beach in his private StndAIR plane. The eye-catching red plane soared toward the shore of Shelter Island, an amazing slice of technology on a peaceful beach. Balazs exited the plane and walked barefoot through the sand toward Sunset Beach, his luxurious hotel on Shelter Island, to attend his Hamptons magazine cover party.
Reporters swarmed around Balazs as he strolled toward Sunset Beach in the early evening. Unruffled, he discussed his trip and smiled warmly at the locals gathered on the beach. Everyone was apparently accustomed to an occasional plane landing. Beach goers went back to frolicking in the sand as Balazs chatted and posed for pictures in front of the hotel.
The atmosphere at Sunset Beach is as warm and welcoming as Balazs himself. Colorful awnings, outdoor seating and a dynamic boutique offer a Hamptons greeting with a St. Tropez feel. The Hamptons elite were at ease. Attractive staff offered mouthwatering hors d'oervres. Beverages served included Skinny Water and cocktails provided by LaMarco Prosecco, Casa Dragones sipping tequila, Las Rocas Carnacha and Martin Codax Albarino.
The party at Sunset Beach on July 29th celebrated André Balazs' appearance on the cover of Hamptons magazine, with Editor-in-Chief Samantha Yanks and publisher Debra Halpert. Issues of Hamptons magazine were strategically placed throughout the outdoor venue, showcasing Balazs' handsome face on its cover.
André Balazs graciously agreed to talk to Huliq about his endeavors over a glass of his signature wine. The rosé is a St. Tropez-inspired blend made for Balazs by Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack. The André Balazs Reserve Sunset Beach Rosé is a favorite he said was selling well.
Wine is just a small part of the vast enterprise created by the renowned hotelier. Balazs' latest success is StndAIR, a private plane that flies jet-setters. There are regularly scheduled flights to the Hamptons from NYC as well as return flights, with a lucky few scoring them for as little as $29. A jug of rosé is passed around during the flights, along with branded water.
Balazs said, “We have a social networking service, it's like a game.” For the first person, the flight is only $29. There are also “dead legs” return flights for people going back to NYC for just $29. For architects and others working on Long Island's East End, this is an affordable and time-saving choice.
The StndAIR website has a link for deals on off-peak flights. Balazs added, “You can make the plane leave to wherever you want to go if you convince enough friends to go with you. You can charter it, but this is cheaper. When there are eight people who want to fly, the plane takes off.”
Besides scheduled flights to the Hamptons, StndAIR also has private charters. For various fees, travelers have the convenience of a private flight to popular destinations such as East Hampton, West Hampton, Shelter Island, Montauk, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Provincetown.
With Massachusetts in mind, Balazs said, ““My parents are from Hungary but I was born in Boston and grew up in Cambridge. I came to New York right after college. I always wanted to live in New York.” Balazs become an integral part of New York as a hotelier and real estate developer, though his empire extends around the globe.
Balazs attended Columbia journalism school to earn his MBA in journalism and started two newspapers and a magazine with some partners. He dappled in politics with political consultant/strategist David Garth for about a year and a half. Balazs worked on a campaign for Bess Myerson, who was running for U.S. Senate. Not completely satisfied, he wanted to open a business. He already started a newspaper publishing company and decided to embark on an endeavor with his scientist father.
Balazs said, “Biotech was just getting funded for the first time. I thought wouldn't it be interesting to take his academic research and make a business out of it.” He added the business was, “very, very, very successful.”
However, Balazs said his heart was in other types of businesses. “I started investing in nightclubs and restaurants and ultimately I found hotels, which included all of the above.” Balazs referred to his hotels as a “forum, a venue to make people happy.” He enthusiastically said, “It's really what I like to do.”
His attention to detail and desire to show people a good time is evident at Sunset Beach, one of the Standard Hotels. “I view this as kind of a hybrid. We're sitting here under a tent, in a tree house basically, but everybody here is the most sophisticated audience anybody could imagine in America.” He enjoys bare feet, sand on the table and sophistication, just like his guests.
With regard to the Standard Hotels, Balazs said he started in the luxury end of the business with Chateau Mercer. About a decade later, he started the Standards. “I found it was a shame that the sophistication of hospitality had been relegated to the upper end of the market. I like to call it 'content,' that which you give to a meaningful hotel experience. I thought it was rather sad that content should only be for the luxury end, so the idea was to create and bring that denseness and sophistication to an affordable nature.”
Balazs is also involved in residential projects in New York City, saying, “We've done them by accident.” So far he completed three very successful residential projects. Besides hotel and residential projects, Balazs was a founding trustee on the board of the New York Academy of Art. Balazs started the Academy with his good friend Andy Warhol and other collectors and enthusiasts.
Balazs commented he was fascinated because the Academy was dedicated to figurative arts such as drawing, painting and sculpture. It is now an accredited school awarding degrees in the arts. Warhol was a driving force and Balazs stated he was “clearly a fantastic artist and could draw like nobody else and he appreciated that.”
Besides being a stellar businessman and social icon, Balazs is dedicated to his family. He just returned from visiting his 91-year-old father in Budapest. He said he was proud of his two daughters with ex-wife Katie Ford of Ford Models. Alessandra is acting and attending USC and Isabel is currently attending St. Ann's.
Balazs said about their mom, “Katie is my best friend. She is actually here on Shelter Island right now a few blocks away and we live two doors from each other.”
Discussing his personal life lead to the inevitable questioning about a current love interest. Balazs responded, “Oh yes, there is.” When further questioned if it was Chelsea Handler, he indicated, “Well, yeah, sometimes she looks like that.”
Photo by Stacey Doyle All Rights Reserved - Hamptons magazine celebrates new issue with André Balazs at Sunset Beach on Shelter Island with Casa Dragones sipping tequila
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