There is a similar thread on a big US based airline pilot forum's fractional sub-section.
The consensus seems to be that the Phenom 300 is a great aircraft and flies way nicer than an XLS. That's also what I have heard from every pilot I spoke to who has flown both (quite a few).
It's been around for a few years now and most of the bugs have been ironed out. It is very reliable. There are plenty of maintenance options in Europe, but of course not as many as for Citations. Off the top of my head I know Paris, Cologne, Stansted, St.Gallen/Altenrhein and Prague. (edited to say: I just checked and there is one more in Europe and that's in EDGS)
To be fair the Excel/XLS has two main advantages: Bigger cabin and an APU. Almost everything else the Phenom beats it. I do not work for Embraer by the way.
Last edited by 733driver; 17th May 2015 at 14:40.