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!
