To serve Hong Kong's rich, bespoke travel services bend over backwards
Meet the Downton Abbey cast? No problem, Sir. What bespoke travel and concierge services do for their ultra-wealthy clients in China and the West - nothing is too much trouble
For Cedric Reversade and his partner Paul Maxime Koskas of Unique Properties and Events, no request is too difficult - well, almost.
"Two years ago, we had an American client who was getting married in Florence. After she arrived in her private jet, she wanted a horse-drawn carriage to meet her at the airport to take her to the wedding venue," Reversade says. "I had to explain that because of traffic and pollution, she would arrive not in a white dress, but one that was grey or black."
Not all requests are as outlandish, Reversade says. Today's ultra-wealthy are looking for the best experience in travel that money can buy, but discreet enough so they can live like locals and discover the culture and gastronomy on their own.
These clients are looking for personal concierge services on bespoke holidays that are tailored to their every realistic whim.
Unique Properties and Events has access to 15 to 20 villas owned by friends and clients which it can use for its bespoke travel services. The properties are not advertised for rent online, and so are highly exclusive. They include a palazzo in Venice and a seafront villa in Saint-Tropez.
Clients are from England, the United States, South America, Switzerland and Hong Kong; many are on the Forbes 500 list. "We have a few celebrities, but we don't want those who cause any trouble," Reversade says with a chuckle. "Our guests are the ones who want to be apart from the crowd."