Emilia Fazzalari is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairperson of Cincoro Tequila, a portfolio of high-end tequilas she started with four NBA legends including Michael Jordan.

As part of her role, she’s a frequent globetrotter and hits the road multiple times a month to visit with distributors, restaurant, hotel and nightclub owners and educate them on Cincoro. I caught up with Emilia recently about where she goes, her favorite destinations for work and play, her travel routine and the discoveries she’s made.

How often are you on the road for work, and why do you have to travel for work?

I spend a ton of time traveling in the US and overseas to establish our delicious tequilas globally. We recently expanded to the UK, Spain, Italy, France and Greece in Europe; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the Middle East; plus, key Asian markets like China and South Korea. There is always somewhere I need to be. I conduct master classes to educate our partners on Cincoro and meet one-on-one with restaurants, nightclubs, liquor store owners and distributors to tell our story and share our delicious liquids.

What’s been your favorite destination and why?

Italy is my family’s origin, and it always feels like a second home. I also love traveling with the Celtics team, especially if we are in the playoffs. The experience of NBA travel is crazy and different – great teammates, very late nights, luxurious hotels, lots of healthy food and intense games!

What’s been your biggest surprise and why?

We tried St Barths a few years back and happened to book the Carl Gustaf Hotel. It is not beachfront and possibly some people overlook it. Well, the beautiful rooms with pools, amazing staff, incredible high up views, and walkable location to the main town make it our forever St. Barths place! As they say, “take me to the Carl, (and pour me a Cincoro)!”

Tell me some discoveries you’ve made on the road.

I loved visiting and learning more about the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi. It houses a stunning church, synagogue, and mosque all in one location. The space encourages peace and tolerance by bringing different faiths together to share and explore the different religions. The other showstopper and must-see place is the Louvre Abu Dhabi which is located very close to the Abrahamic Family House on Saadiyat Island.

What is your travel routine like?

When traveling domestically, I prefer an early-morning flight or a late-night flight when traveling abroad. I will have a meal at home and then eat as little as possible on the flight while drinking a ton of water and I never eat the warm nuts!

Are you a check-in or carry-on traveler?

If I can , I will carry-on luggage.

What luggage do you use?

Carry on- a vintage TUMI with an internal hanging bag for suits and long dresses-not replaceable!

Checked luggage- RIMOWA Trunk – so beautiful and functional, it fits two weeks’ worth of clothes!

What are your travel essentials?

My laptop to work on the plane, a couple of Veronica Beard blazers, comfortable high heels (they do exist), and lots of accessories that can transform a day outfit into an evening one.

What’s always in your purse?

WYN BEAUTY Glideline, and lip gloss. I love Serena Williams’ new makeup line!

Favorite tip for beating jet lag?

For minimal jetlag on long-haul flights, I prefer an overnight flight and then I work out when I land. For me, this helps my body adjust to the new time zone in the quickest way possible.

Any insider tips to make travel easier or more fun?

Immerse yourself in the local culture. For fun, I like to explore the side streets and stumble on small family-owned restaurants that are the favorites of the locals.

What do you look for in a hotel?

Centrally located and modern with a cool hip vibe.

Any room requirements?

A desk, decent-sized closet and a bathroom with plenty of counter space and good lighting.

Where do you like to vacation?

We love to explore beautiful beach towns around the world. Italy is always on the menu. Our next vacation will be in Sardinia.

What’s your favorite hotel in the world?

The Caruso Hotel, which is in a former 11th century palace perched on a cliff overlooking the Amalfi Coast. Wyc and I stayed there on our honeymoon.

And your favorite hotel bar?

Baccarat Bar in NYC. It is just beautiful and makes you feel special every time you walk in.

Share some of the destinations you’ve visited in the last year and what you did there.

I visited Italy many times last year as we have recently launched our WE Dream College Scholarship for girls from Calabria, Italy.

Wyc and I are passionate about giving back in a way that truly makes an impact on individuals. The WE Dream scholarship program was created because we believe that an education is the key to a better future and can really change the trajectory of someone’s life. We want to inspire girls, who can’t afford a college education, to dream big and help put them on a path where their dreams can become a reality.

We chose to launch the project in Calabria to celebrate my family’s origins and give something back to the land where my parents were born and raised. We also selected Calabria because there is a real financial need in the region. According to the Italian Ministry of Education, less than 18,000 students enroll in a bachelor program out of a potential 100,000 students. And that figure hasn’t changed in 10 years.

Our goal is to award 10 scholarships per year. The WE Dream scholarship will cover the costs of tuition and housing. This is our first year of the program and our hope is that this year’s girls will become mentors for next year’s scholars and a community of young girls who support each other is created.



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