Jane McBride and Patty Zinkowski are about to launch Private Jet Journeys, a deluxe private jet and luxury travel service for Asia's successful travelers. Eventually they plan to use some of the proceeds from the jet service to build a safe house and school for the children of the hill tribes in China, just as they have done in northern Thailand.

The couple moved to the Boothbay region seven years ago and are best known for their nonprofit organization Friends of Thai Daughters, based in northern Thailand, to protect young girls from human trafficking. This spring, they opened a second school, the Sunflower Safe House, in Chiang Rai, sheltering and protecting 19 young girls and one boy from human traffickers in the Golden Triangle region, where Thailand, Burma and Laos converge. Sex traffickers target children as young as 8 years old, luring or kidnapping them into a life of prostitution.

McBride and Zinkowski are no strangers to aviation-based businesses. In 1985, McBride and Zinkowski and a third partner founded Flight Time Corporation, one of the first air charter brokerage companies in the United States. Until they sold the business in 2002, they were involved in some high profile charity and professional events. They met many celebrities, including Ben Affleck, Lionel Richie, Prince Charles, Bonnie Raitt, Lily Tomlin, Donald Trump, Michael Jordan and Billie Jean King.

“Through these and other personal and professional relationships, we're one degree of separation from some very important business and political leaders,” McBride said. “It seemed like an excellent business opportunity to leverage our network and make introductions to our Chinese clients. You never know what synergies might exist between our future successful Chinese travelers and their American counterparts.”

In January of this year, planning got off the ground. A website was launched and McBride moved to Shanghai in March, followed by meetings day and night with potential clients.

A trip from China to the U.S. is $50,000 per person, or $100,000 per person (and up depending on the trip) if a visit or meeting with a celebrity is included in the journey. The feedback McBride has received from the Chinese is, yes it is expensive, but if there is enough exclusivity to it and bragging rights, they are interested. They prefer small, exclusive and elite.

McBride said the number of millionaires in China is growing exponentially and the trend among them is to acquire experiences and knowledge, not just wealth. The average age of a millionaire in China is 39, and the average billionaire is 42. Interestingly one-third of China’s rich are women.

Private Jet Journeys acts as trusted travel and lifestyle advisers, arranging every detail of a program, from jet service to VIP introductions to business leaders and high profile personalities. They see themselves as a cross cultural bridge, and east-meets-west nexus.

“We have also been asked about investment opportunities including real estate and fine art. The opportunities to provide services beyond just travel are extensive,” Zinkowski said. “We are just wise enough, old enough, foreign enough and have enough Asian experience for our potential clients to take us seriously.”

“It might take twice as long to develop a relationship in China, but once one is established, it lasts – unless you mess it up,” McBride said.

A sure sign McBride is making positive strides toward successful relationships was her nomination as International Entrepreneur of the Year in China and an invitation to be the international consultant and honorary member of the Shanghai Financiers Club. Although she did not win the award, her nomination led her to many influential contacts.

Zinkowski and McBride know their dedication and commitment to the work of Friends of Thai Daughters impresses their new Chinese clients. McBride said it shows they have an established commitment to Asia and demonstrates they are not carpetbaggers.

“They are impressed we have been investing sweat equity into helping Asian children,” Zinkowski said.

While working on setting up the new business, McBride and Zinkowski are working on a connection between Friends of Thai Daughters's new Sunflower School and a private school in Shanghai interested in community service.

“We will link them with our kids in Thailand through Skype and they will learn Chinese, English and math,” McBride said. “Through that connection we hope to eventually have our Thai kids visit China and the Chinese students visit Thailand.”

Local organizations have supported Friends of Thai Daughters by helping to educate the public. In 2004, the same year McBride and Zinkowski founded Friends of Thai Daughters, they began filming a documentary called “Daughters and Sons – Preventing Child Trafficking in the Golden Triangle.” It was shown at the Boston International Film Festival and the Artivist Film Festival, where it won an award for best short film. Locally, the film has been screened at the Boothbay YMCA and the Harbor Theatre.

“This community has been amazing in its generosity and spirit,” McBride said. “They recognize Boothbay is connected to the outside world and want to help.”

“We have lived this lifestyle ourselves … we've had wonderful experiences and know how it works. But, we don't need stuff anymore, if we can make this financially successful, and help keep Friends of Thai Daughters afloat, we see a Friends of Chinese Daughters in the offing,” Zinkowski said.

For more information, go to www.mxtx.asia. For more information about Friends of Thai Daughters, go to www.FriendsofThaiDaughters.org.

The trips offered by Private Jet Journeys are still being crafted, including an around-the-world journey and anti-aging and stem cell program.

Bordeaux Fine Wines & Paris Journey – a six-day trip featuring visits to top vineyards including Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Haut Brion, tasting dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants and accommodation at the Shangri La Hotel Paris and private chateaux.

Tiger Woods, Pebble Beach & Napa Valley – a unique combination of world class golf and world class wine, featuring Tiger Woods, followed by curated tours and tastings at Opus One and Peter Michael wineries followed by dinner at French Laundry hosted by a Master Sommelier.

Ivy League Tour and Hollywood – a week-long journey for a select group of families departing from China to Boston aboard a luxurious Boeing Business Jet. The group will enjoy private meetings and tours with admissions personnel at Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth and Brown. From Boston, the journey continues by private jet to Hollywood where the group will have a private reception with pop star Justin Bieber and actor Jaden Smith and a backstage visit to a Hollywood studio.

Shangri La Private Jet Journey – celebrates Shangri La’s newest properties in Istanbul and London as well as a visit to its iconic Paris hotel. London highlights include cocktails with Mayor Boris Johnson and a visit to Althorp, the ancestral home of Diana, Princess of Wales, for dinner and an overnight stay hosted by Earl Spencer. In Paris, the chairman and CEO of Hennessy Cognac will host a tasting and Chef Alain Ducasse will personally welcome the VIP group at his Michelin-starred Jules Verne restaurant. Istanbul includes before-hours private tours of the Haghia Sofia, private yacht on the Bosphorus and a private dinner at the Sait Halim Pasha Mansion.

Harvard Business School and Investment Consultations – designed for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to sharpen their skills at a series of private seminars taught by leading Harvard Business School faculty members. One-on-one consultations with private equity firms and banks such as Blackstone and U.S. Trust will be offered to interested participants.

Virgin Limited Edition by Private Jet – features visits to Sir Richard Branson’s exclusive and extraordinary properties and luxury yachts including Necker Island, Necker Belle, Kasbah Tamadot, Ulusaba, Makepeace Island and more… and might even include an introduction to Sir Richard himself.