When you have unlimited funds, what is a vacation like?
Well, offering a glimpse into how the other half lives when it comes to travel, a concierge to the ultra-rich has opened up some of the pages of her little black book.
Speaking to DailyMail.com from her sprawling Cannes villa, Deborah Duquesne reveals that one of the most expensive trips she organised for a client cost nearly $10 million.
Detailing the holiday, which saw a group travel to 11 different countries on private jets and chartered yachts, he said: ‘This no-expense-spared six-month trip included a spectacular 18-bedroom mansion in the south of France and one of the most coveted mountain chalets in Courchevel.
‘To provide them with the ultimate VIP experience, I made sure both properties featured armed security personnel, live-in staff, a private chef, a celebrity personal trainer, and lessons from a gold medal-winning tennis instructor.’
Cannes-based luxury travel concierge Deborah Duquesne caters to the desires of ultra-high net worth clients.
To organize trips, Deborah says she starts by determining what her clients’ “passions and tastes” are.
To organize trips, Deborah says she starts by determining what her clients’ “passions and tastes” are.
From there, the travel professional and her team are dedicated to “adapting a specific trip to the client’s exact tastes and needs, where all they would do is pack their bags and we would take care of the rest.”
Deborah reveals that most of her clients, who range from “royalty to music stars”, don’t even know where they are going and leave it up to her to “surprise them with a unique experience”.
While all of her clients have large bank balances in common, Deborah says their preferences vary depending on where they are from.
Referring to cultural differences, he says: ‘UK clients tend to rent Provencal-style houses and large European homes as they tend to come with large groups and families.
‘This is in contrast to my American clients who love modern villas and the idea of an oasis.
As for food and restaurants, both of them like European cuisine mixed with Asian or Greek cuisine, but only if it is well done.
‘UK guests love a good party and aren’t too fussed about food, but a good beach club and warm weather are a must.
In addition to traveling, Deborah prides herself on being able to handle other extravagant requests, from securing premium concert tickets to getting her hands on limited edition fashion items.
Through Deborah’s app, called Hummingbird Executive, clients can log their requests with the click of a button.
‘Tennis is also a big hit with the British, so having a venue with a tennis court on site or a tennis club nearby is essential. Middle Eastern clients are different, as they require more staff on site.
‘In the US and UK, guests may want one or two maids or butlers on hand, but Middle Eastern guests often ask for more.
‘Customers in Asia want everything ready to use, from food picked up from Michelin-starred restaurants and delivered to their homes, to shopping experiences brought to the comfort of their holiday homes.’
When asked what some of the most popular items are among her super-rich clients, Deborah says some of the must-have accessories include a Rimowa suitcase, which starts at around $1,000, and a Louis Vuitton Keepall travel bag, which starts at over $2,000.
She has also noticed that many of her male customers wear “dad caps,” with the favorite being the one from Italian luxury brand Loro Piana, shaped like a baseball cap and priced at around $400.
In addition to traveling, Deborah prides herself on being able to handle other extravagant requests, from securing premium concert tickets to getting her hands on limited edition fashion items.
Through its application, called Hummingbird ExecutiveCustomers can register their requests with the click of a button.
Membership fees mean that clients can gain access to a dedicated concierge 24/7.
Deborah says her wealthy UK clients “love a good party” and “don’t care too much about food, but a good beach club and warm weather are a must.”
One of the properties that Deborah likes to use for her clients in St Tropez for its privacy.
The entrepreneur (pictured with musician Akon) says the biggest travel trend she’s noticed is “digital detox.”
One of the unknown requests Deborah recently received came from a Middle Eastern businessman who wanted to locate a rare diamond that could go in his daughter’s tiara for her 11th birthday.
After extensive research, Deborah says her team has just found a stone “that is around 70 carats, a unique and extremely rare green diamond worth around $300 million.”
He added: “The client specifically wanted a green diamond because it symbolises purity and prosperity.”
Looking ahead, Deborah is currently working on several itineraries and says a big trend she is noticing is the desire to “unplug.”
The entrepreneur explains: ‘Digital detox is a big trend right now. People want to enjoy and appreciate their moments.
‘With every detox request I receive, I always recommend Bali first.
‘Most of my clients who request this just want to connect with nature and spirituality and disconnect from their demanding lives and careers.’
Before she heads off to plan more luxurious getaways, Deborah reveals three of her favorite places in the world.
She reflects: ‘In my opinion, the Bvlgari Resort Bali is one of the best hotels in the world, and when it comes to restaurants, I would choose two of the best.
‘You can’t go wrong at Japanese steakhouse Gekko in Miami, while Greek-inspired restaurant Gaia in Monaco is one of my favourite places to dine.’
