For many tennis fans, the perfect vacation includes watching world-class matches, playing on beautiful courts, staying in luxury accommodations, and exploring destinations that leave lasting memories. For Miami-based entrepreneur and tennis coach Troy Manditch, that vision has become a reality through his company, Lux Group Ventures.
Florida Tennis recently spent time with Manditch in Mallorca, Spain, one of his signature destinations, to experience firsthand how he combines tennis, travel, culture, and community into one seamless experience. During the visit, Florida Tennis Editor Matt Pressman sat down with Manditch at the Guillermo Vilas Academy, where Lux Group guests train while attending the ATP 250 Mallorca Championships.
“It’s a magical island,” Manditch said. “For Americans, it’s an underrated island. It’s really an incredible place for any type of sports tourism and active travel, and that’s exactly what my company arranges.”
Founded with the idea that vacations should be both memorable and meaningful, Lux Group Ventures specializes in small-group tennis trips that blend professional tournaments, coaching sessions, luxury accommodations, and local experiences.
“We show people a good time in a way that’s healthy, social, really fun, and everything is seamlessly handled,” Manditch explained. “You can just show up and have quite the time in a place maybe you haven’t considered.”
Mallorca is one of Europe’s premier tennis destinations and the birthplace of legends such as Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moyá. For Manditch, choosing the island as Lux Group Ventures’ first destination was no accident.
“This is now my fifth time doing this trip, and it was the first destination I chose,” he said. “I scouted the whole world. Every place has pros and cons. With this one, the pros are here and the cons are practically non-existent.”
The trip gives guests a chance to train daily at the Guillermo Vilas Academy while attending one of the most intimate events on the ATP calendar.
“The good thing about this tournament, like a lot of the ATP 250s, is we’ll literally be five, ten, fifteen feet away from world-class players,” Manditch said. “You don’t really get that except for paying several tens of thousands of dollars at the majors.”
This year’s tournament featured stars such as Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Bublik, Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen.
“You can play tennis for roughly two hours a day, watch tennis until the matches end each evening, and still have plenty of time left for beach and city exploration,” Manditch said.
The itinerary also includes visits to the island’s famous Tramuntana Mountains and picturesque villages such as Sóller, Deià, and Valldemossa, giving guests an opportunity to experience the culture and beauty of Mallorca beyond the tennis courts.
A key part of the Lux Group philosophy is creating authentic experiences by partnering with local businesses.
“I really do pride myself on using as many companies as possible that are from the island,” Manditch said. “The tour guide is from Mallorca. The hotel chain is a Mallorcan company. The driving company is a Mallorcan company.”
Guests stay at the five-star Zafiro Palace Andratx, one of Mallorca’s premier resorts.
“It has the best breakfast I’ve ever had. Period. Full stop. No exaggeration,” Manditch said with a laugh.
The property offers ocean views, large pools, wellness facilities, and a location just minutes from the beach.
“People are usually blown away by the hotel,” he added. “And it’s all done at a price point where the value is really incredible.”
One of the most unique aspects of Lux Group Ventures is that guests don’t even have to play tennis to enjoy the trips.
“People even come on this trip and don’t even play tennis,” Manditch said. “You can watch tennis while we’re playing tennis and still have a great time. It’s that balanced of an itinerary.”
The company intentionally keeps group sizes small, generally between eight and sixteen people.
“The most important thing is everyone comes and has an amazing time,” Manditch explained. “Having every person go on the trip and say it was certainly one of the best trips of their life is priority number one.”
The small groups also create strong connections among travelers.
“Half the group, or sometimes more than half, comes solo,” he said. “By day two they don’t feel solo at all. By day five they’re crying as they’re leaving because they’ve made so many friends.”
Mallorca may have been the beginning, but Lux Group Ventures continues to expand its offerings.
“We added Costa Rica on the beach, and now we’re doing the jungles of Costa Rica,” Manditch said. “We’re going to Algarve, Portugal, and we’re absolutely doing a trip to Rio de Janeiro for the Rio Open.”
Additional destinations under consideration include Athens, Greece, the south of France, and Savannah, Georgia.
“We serve practically anyone who likes to play tennis and also just have a traditional fun vacation,” he said. “Everything is a seamless experience where you just show up with a good attitude.”
As both a tennis coach and avid player, Manditch also shared some advice for recreational players looking to improve their games.
“If there’s one thing I could tell someone to quickly win more matches, it’s two words: aim higher,” he said.
Manditch believes recreational players should focus more on topspin and net clearance.
“For the average amateur player, invest in hitting topspin early,” he explained. “It’s the best way to hit an aggressive shot without taking on a ton of risk.”
He summarized his topspin philosophy simply: “The topspin formula is a closed racket face and a low-to-high swing.”
For Manditch, Lux Group Ventures is about much more than travel.
“It’s really my life’s work to take people on these trips and make sure they have really fun vacations,” he said. “You only have so many vacations in life, so why wouldn’t you make every one count?”
After spending time with Manditch exploring Mallorca’s hidden gems and experiencing his passion for tennis travel firsthand, it’s easy to understand why his guests keep returning. Whether it’s training on world-class courts, sitting just feet away from ATP stars, or discovering destinations through the eyes of a local expert, Lux Group Ventures offers tennis lovers something increasingly rare in today’s travel landscape: experiences that feel personal, authentic, and unforgettable.
Exclusive Interview
===
Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Video edited by Nathalia Suarez.