INTERVIEW
LLA: In the former days, you were a professional tennis
player. Does your sporting experience help in your current
position?
CB: Tennis really helped me a lot. First is the education that
you learn from tennis, of course, after the most important one
– education received from your parents. Traveling around the
world as a tennis player has helped me a lot in knowing the
cities, hotels, restaurants, places of fun and entertainment,
and the landmarks. Of course, in all these places where I was
traveling, I would meet many business people from different
fields, some of whom would become my clients and then
recommend me to other friends of theirs and acquaintances,
that’s how this adventure began in the world of luxury.
LLA: What are the advantages of working in the luxury sector,
with the most demanding and sophisticated clients in the
world?
CB: Some clients may be more demanding and others less,
and we must adapt to each client and their requirements. It
also depends on the services they request and the time period
we have available to provide the requested service. The richest
consumers are willing to pay very large amounts for personalized
attention. The idea is to buy an experience, adapted to the
needs of travelers and sufficient to relax from the daily stress.
Nowadays, the concierge is much closer to a luxury lifestyle
manager, selling unique travel and experiences. Our advantages
are that we work with passion and we want our clients to feel relaxed
and happy while we take care of all their needs. Also working in
the luxury sector, there are chances you know something about
branding. You know how important it is for the brand to know its
customer inside and out, and to use this knowledge to continue
building and selling products or services that create a meaningful
experience for those indulging in aspirational lifestyle. There are
many advantages to this activity and this is practically what I wanted
when I decided to give up my life as a player and then as a tennis
coach. The advantages are following:
- This company creates a very good availability when it comes to
where I am, the time I have or must dedicate to the company and
then the way I need to work.
- I can work from anywhere in the world, I don’t need to be at an
office every day.
- There is no specific work schedule, everything depends on the
clients and the time I want to dedicate to the company.
- The people I deal with are generally very serious people with values
in life, punctual, modest and it is exceptional to be able to work with
and for such people.
- I do not travel as much as when I was a tennis player, which means
that I have more time to stay at home, with family, friends and then
when traveling only stay for a few days as necessary. During these
trips, I can combine the job and the pleasure of being able to visit or
even to relax a few extra days in the place if I wish.
116 The Art of Luxury Issue 44 2020