Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

We asked 24-hour global concierge and private members club Quintessentially.com for the insider scoop on Hong Kong’s latest lifestyle trends.

We asked 24-hour global concierge and private members club, Quintessentially, for the inside scoop on Hong Kong’s latest lifestyle trends.

Imagine your most well-travelled friend, mixed with a super PR, a discerning restaurant critic and party thrower extraordinaire and you have Quintessentially.com. Curious as ever to know what's going on globally - we tapped them for their very (very) insider knowledge.

1.
YOUR STRANGEST EVER REQUESTS
To find an orchestra to record a film score.
To obtain a range of fluorescent men’s business socks.
To locate a pedigree British bulldog in only two hours.
To arrange the services of a published novelist as a tutor for a member’s child.

2.
YOUR MOST POPULAR REQUESTS
For assistance with travel advice/arrangements, restaurant table reservations and event/guest list access.

3.
THE CURRENT GLOBAL DESTINATIONS OF CHOICE FOR YOUR CLIENTS
Phuket and Bali are hugely popular for short breaks, although India is seeing increasing interest, as are alternatives to hotel stays – i.e. private villas or hiring boats such as the Silolona for sailing/diving adventures.

4.
IF MONEY WERE NO PROBLEM - WHAT/HOW/WHERE WOULD YOU SUGGEST AS A TRAVEL IDEA?
A bespoke experience arranged by Quintessentially Escape is literally a once-in-a-lifetime experience - or one of their Definitive Escapes, such as ‘Imperial China’ which allows you VIP access to many of the historical treasures and wonders of China in style, can be arranged by their team of travel gurus.

5.
HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY TRAVEL TRENDS?
Generally speaking, bespoke (www.quintessentiallybespoke.com) travel with unique access is particularly hot – hence the launch of Quintessentially Escape, a sister business to Quintessentially, which provides this service to both members and non-members. On a smaller scale, kite surfing is becoming increasingly popular around the region - as is eco-travel.

6.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE SPA OF THE MOMENT?
The Farm in The Philippines continues to enjoy tremendous low-key popularity along with the established popular spots such as Chiva Som. Ananda in the Himalayas has been one of the world’s best for many years, we regularly arrange trips there for our members.

7.
THE RESTAURANT YOUR CLIENTS MOST WANT TO VISIT
There are too many to mention just one! Hong Kong is foodie heaven. The recent publication of Hong Kong's first Michelin Guide has certainly put Hong Kong on the culinary map - many of the world’s greats have opened here in recent years, such as Robouchon, Gagnaire and Ducasse. One dining option to mention is KEE Club, which is part chic club, part art gallery and part restaurant - a prime see-and-be-seen spot. It is an ultra-exclusive private members’ club and although best known as a clubbing venue with regular visits from international DJs, those-in-the-know also flock there for the superlative cuisine by the El Bulli-trained Head Chef.

8.
ARE THERE ANY NEW FOOD STYLES YOU SEE EMERGING?
Chinese molecular gastronomy is a reasonably new concept – Bo Innovation here in Hong Kong is leading the pack, and was recently awarded 2 Michelin stars. Private kitchens are also proving popular.

9.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE CONCEPT OF LUXURY WILL DEVELOP IN 2009?
Consumers are becoming increasingly sophisticated – the perception of luxury is rising. In our experience, luxury in general used to be about big, bold and expensive items – examples might have included large houses with ornate interiors, clothing and handbags bearing large brand logos, flashy saloon cars etc. but we have seen a strong shift over the last year or so, with the ‘new luxury’ being all about exclusivity and unique experiences.
We find that our members now have a greater preference for uniqueness, expressing style individually and insider knowledge and connections – which is what Quintessentially is all about.
Nowadays, our members are increasingly focused on limited edition items such as one-of-a-kind jewellery, custom-made fashion, designer shoes/handbags (focusing on design and details rather than logos), customized cars with sophisticated designs, and as mentioned previously, bespoke holidays to hidden/exclusive/non mainstream destinations (e.g. private villas, boutique hotels, small islands, private hire yachts) often with ecological concerns (eco-friendly hotels, carbon footprints) plus access to activities that are generally not easily accessible, i.e. members-only clubs, exclusive parties, private performances, etc..
Examples might include: a private preview of an artist’s art collection followed by dinner with the artist in the gallery, a wine holiday to France visiting a prestigious vineyard, meeting the wine makers themselves and learning how to make their wine, a spiritual tour to Cambodia where spending time with the monks at a monastery, bespoke personal shopping experiences with leading fashion experts or a private out-of-hours tour of the Pyramids with Cairo’s leading Egyptologist.

10.
HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY TRENDS IN TERMS OF CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES?
Bespoke gifts.

11.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD PARTY?
We help our members and partners with the coordination of parties from intimate wine tastings with friends through to gala extravaganzas. Remembering the details makes all the difference – that’s what Quintessentially is all about.

12.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT GIFT? DO YOU HAVE A STORY ABOUT SOMEONE ORGANISING A "MEMORABLE" BIRTHDAY GIFT?
We recently reunited one of our member’s husband’s with his five best friends, who live all around the world, and flew them to Asia for his 40th birthday party.

13.
WHAT ARE THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER MUSIC CONCERTS?
Larger pop/rock plus the intimate performances.

14.
WHO ARE THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER ARTIST/S RIGHT NOW?
Coldplay are due in Hong Kong shortly, the demand to see them play has been considerable. The Hong Kong Film Festival kicks off next week, and many movie artists will be in town for that – Quintessentially will provide service to the event’s VIPs and has arranged access to key events and premiers for members.

15.
WHAT TIME OF THE DAY DO YOU GET THE MOST CALLS?
That’s a hard one - each day is different!

16.
WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR DO YOU RECEIVE THE MOST CALLS?
Christmas and pre-summer are particularly busy as our members around the world travel more often at these times.

Coming soon: Up and coming lifestyle trends, the hotels, the holiday spots and the food spots to know in France, Italy, New York, Greece, Hong Kong, UK, and USA PLUS the strangest ever requests.

Quintessentially is the leading private members' club with a 24-hour global concierge service. With offices in almost every major destination and thousands of suppliers worldwide, Quintessentially can hand you the virtual keys to any city. Whether it be travel, music, art, food, drink, hotels, clubs, spas, restaurants, tickets or - most particularly - service, a Quintessentially membership is your passport to the very best that life has to offer.

 

Source: Quintessentially.com

Photo Credit: Hong Kong - 1940's

TAGS: quintessentially.com hong kong bespoke travel luxury concierge lifestyle trends silolona