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Tag: Personal Concierge

Want to pamper yourself? Try these ideas!

For anyone that leads a busy life, the benefits of a personal concierge can be massive. All of a sudden you find your daily routine is no longer dominated by drudge tasks and cluttered with the process of planning and organising. Now, you have time to enjoy yourself: to do all those things which, before, you could never really find the time to do. In short, you can pamper yourself.

But this raises the question – by doing what? Of course, most people have a pretty clear idea of how they prefer to spend their leisure time, and you’re probably no different. Occasionally though, it’s great to be able to push the envelope of familiarity; to do something just a little away from the norm. But what? Here, we list a few ideas that, if you live around London, you might like to try.   

Get a new view – take a helicopter ride  

We’ve done this at ReQuest, and – hand on heart – it’s a pretty cool experience! Fly over London’s capital and experience the aerial view of its many world-famous landmarks in your own helicopter! It’s an experience you won’t forget in a hurry – especially if you take care to capture a few dramatic snaps for your social media feed! Prices typically vary from £150, depending on minutes airborne.

Sky-high yoga at the Shard

Talking of experiences at height, why not try this – it is, we’re assured, Europe’s highest yoga class. And at a hight of 1,016 feet, it’s easy to believe. It’s hard to think of a more extravagant way to pamper your mind and body – and, into the bargain, you’ll get a panoramic view of the city like no other. On hot days, the class is held on an open deck on the 72nd floor, which sounds pretty amazing!

Murder Mystery experience on Belmond British Pullman

If we had to choose our favourite on this list, this would be it. Hop aboard this amazing 1920s inspired train (the sister train of the famous Orient-Express) and enjoy champagne upon arrival, a delicious five-course lunch, and a terrific murder mystery experience. Starting from London Victoria, the whole experience lasts about 5 hours, but it’s so much fun that it’s over in a flash! Spaces are limited, so make sure your concierge books in advance!

Take a (spa) break!

If you’re into body massage , or facials, this is definitely for you. After all, what better way to pamper yourself than relaxing in one of London’s top spas! There are literally dozens – even hundreds – to choose from, but three of the best are the Bulgari Hotel (Knightsbridge), Akasha Spa (Regent St) and Como Shambhala (Mayfair).

Everyman Cinema

We know what you’re thinking  – a trip to the cinema is hardly pushing the boundaries of experience. But this is no ordinary cinema – it’s a boutique cinema chain that specialises in delivering a home-style experience with ultra-comfy sofa–style seats, plus food and (alcoholic) drinks served where you sit. A truly relaxing experience! 

Afternoon tea at the Ritz

Cute mini-sandwiches, wonderfully delicious cakes, a drop of Darjeeling and plush surroundings isn’t everyone’s thing. But if they’re yours, well, you won’t do better than this. It’s a very British thing to do, and it can make for a very relaxing afternoon out.  The Ritz is also right next door to Harrods, so you can always make a day of it and get a bit of retail therapy in before you go – if, that is, you don’t prefer your ReQuest personal Lifestyle Manager to do your shopping for you!  

It doesn’t have to be this way…

Money-rich, time-poor. It’s a phrase that comes from a book by Rob Parsons, called The Heart of Success: Making it in business without losing in life. And it’s a phrase which probably doesn’t need an explanation. Basically, though, it’s about achieving a proper balance between achieving business goals and maintaining a high quality of life. If you’re reading this, the chances are that it’s a problem you’re very familiar with.

But being familiar with a problem doesn’t necessarily make it easier to solve. Which is why so many people in this position fail to solve it – they make lots of money, but they continue to do all the drudge work. As a result, they miss out on many important aspects of life, such as having quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the downtime they deserve.

Of course, it’s a problem that been around for decades, even centuries. And the concept of a concierge dates back just as long. In fact, the roots of the word, “concierge” come from the Latin conserves, meaning “fellow slave”, though the word itself (“concierge”) is French, and means “keeper of the keys.” During the Middle Ages, you see, when the nobility entertained guests at their castles, someone (a concierge) was appointed to look after the keys to the rooms, and ensure that guests had everything they needed. This evolved into a more general role, so that, by the 1800s, many European organisations, ranging from government offices to prisons, employed their own concierge.

Today, of course, the word “concierge” is essentially just another term for personal assistant. And it’s a service that has proved so popular that it’s given rise to an entire industry. As more and more people find themselves victim of the money-rich, time-poor phenomenon, the demand for personal concierges have skyrocketed.  The (2018) global concierge services market size was valued at over half a billion pounds (£500 million) and is expected to grow by about 5% year-on-year, from 2019 to 2025. This should be no surprise when you consider that many top managers, VIPs, celebrities and other high net-worth individuals have recognised the enormous benefits of outsourcing routine or specialised tasks to help them achieve a better work-life balance.

Interestingly, though, the very popularity of the concept among the rich and famous has led, in recent years, to a misunderstanding. Most people think that a personal concierge is something which is affordable only by the ultra-wealthy. This may have been true once, but it’s no longer the case. True, a personal concierge isn’t within the means of everyone, but they are surprisingly affordable – especially when they are made available through specialist companies like ReQuest which offered tailored packages to suit individual budgets. If you’re looking for someone to work closely with you on every aspect of your life, and assume key responsibilities on a 24/7 basis, we can provide that person. However if you’re looking for somebody to work in a more limited capacity and take responsibility for the tasks you hate most , we can supply someone to meet those needs too. Basically, whatever your budget, we can work to it.

So, if you’ve been thinking for a while that it’s time you gave yourself more time to sit back, relax and enjoy the things you enjoy doing most – give us a call. We’ll be glad to help.

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