Quintessentially Group

Quintessentially Group is a British concierge company founded in 2000 by Aaron Simpson, Ben Elliot and Paul Drummond.[4] The company is headquartered in London[5] and operates 60 offices worldwide.[6] Quintessentially is a members-only "luxury lifestyle management service" that provides concierge services including travel bookings, restaurant recommendations, and access to events.[7] Quintessentially Group includes 16 brand services, including Travel, Events, Estates and the Quintessentially Foundation.[8][9][10] Annastasia Seebohm is the company's global chief executive officer.[11]

Quintessentially Group
TypePrivately held company
IndustryLifestyle management
Founded2000
FoundersAaron Simpson
Ben Elliot
Paul Drummond
HeadquartersLondon, England,
United Kingdom
Number of locations
60
Key people
Annastasia Seebohm, Global CEO
ServicesConcierge and Lifestyle Management services[1]
RevenueUS$ 23,100,000 (2018)[2]
Number of employees
1,000 (2019[3])
Websitequintessentially.com

History

Quintessentially was established in 2000 by Aaron Simpson, Paul Drummond and Ben Elliot, the nephew of the Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.[12] Simpson met Drummond at Oxford University and later started the company with business partner Elliot as a small, London-based concierge service.[13] Before founding Quintessentially, Elliot had co-founded K-Bar Plc, a group of nightclubs and bars, and Simpson had worked as a film producer.[14]

From 2002 to 2005, Quintessentially expanded from two offices in the United Kingdom to ten around the world.[15] In 2018 the company reports to over 60+ offices in cities such as Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles and New York.

In 2010, the company was estimated to have about 86,000 subscribers, including 800 billionaires.[16] Quintessentially moved its headquarters from Soho to Portland Place in early 2011.[17]

The Quintessentially Lifestyle App was introduced in early 2014. The mobile app features recommendations, reviews, and allows members to make requests to their Lifestyle Managers.[18] In November 2016, Quintessentially partnered with Eva Longoria and Victoria Beckham to host the seventh annual Global Gift Gala at the Corinthia Hotel in London.[19] In 2017, it was announced that the company was building a "super yacht" for its members.[20][21]

In 2015 Quintessentially created the website of an international escort agency called Le Besoin and registered it to its London headquarters.

In 2020 Quintessentially has been scrutinised over a £1.4m contract with the UK government to introduce Whitehall officials to wealthy individuals. The Financial Times also revealed that Quintessentially’s founders, Mr Elliot, Aaron Simpson and Paul Drummond, had settled a lawsuit brought by two former female employees who accused them of financial mismanagement and creating a hostile working culture.

Ben Elliot has a new role as Co-Chairman of Boris Johnson's Conservative Party. An accountant’s report described the group’s structure as ‘opaque and complex’. Per January 2021 Quintessentially UK Limited and 14 sister companies are up to one year late in filing their accounts – an offense with £1,500 fines per firm and ultimately directors personally liable if it gets to court. [22]

Operations

Quintessentially Group is a network of 16 brand services that operate the personal services provided for its private members.[10] These companies include Travel, Events and Estates,[23] and Quintessentially Gifts.[6]

Quintessentially UK Ltd — the holding company for a network of more than 30 businesses, including an art dealership, a florist, an estate agency and a chauffeur service, that cater to wealthy clients — recorded a £3.1m loss in the year to April 30, 2018, its latest available accounts.[24]

Quintessentially Lifestyle

Quintessentially Lifestyle is a members-only luxury lifestyle management and concierge service.[12] The New York Times called Quintessentially Lifestyle, "The company that transformed the idea of concierge services into 'lifestyle management.'"[15] It provides Corporate Solutions and Private Memberships that include preferential rates on hotels and other reservations, access to events, luxury gifts, and other services.[10][25][26]

Globally, the firm employs more than 1500 Lifestyle Managers in over 60 offices speaking 35 languages.[27]

Since 2016, the department for international trade has paid Quintessentially £1.4m to introduce Whitehall officials to high-net worth individuals so they can “network at the highest levels”, according to a contract seen by the FT.[28]

Quintessentially Foundation

Established in June 2008, the Quintessentially Foundation is the charitable arm of the Group.[17] It has raised more than £9,000,000 through various fundraisers, including the annual Poker Night.[29] In 2013, the annual Poker Night fundraiser generated £160,000 for the Duchenne Children's Trust that funds research for the development of a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The foundation has supported organisations like Room to Read and has also funded medical research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.[14]

References
  1. Afsun Smith (26 February 2003). "Beyond The Black Card?". Forbes. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  2. [v v] Check |url= value (help). Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. Ashley Armstrong (15 November 2014). "Quintessentially hopes its fixers can fetch £120m". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  4. Robinson, James (30 July 2007). "Guardian Media Group: Luxury magazines have designs on readers with the deepest pockets of all". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  5. "Quintessentially Sees Hong Kong as a Natural Fit for its HQ" (PDF).
  6. Marrhew Schneier (17 December 2014). "A Gift So Right, She'll Know You Got Help". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  7. "When it's the gardener's day offand the topiary really needs a trim". The New York Times. 8 December 2005. Archived from the original on 9 March 2011.
  8. "Quintessentially: The Luxury Lifestyle". Lux Worldwide. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  9. Lauren Matison (23 October 2008). "Quintessentially Opens Event Division in New York, Hires New Director". BizBash. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  10. Matthew Kassel (8 March 2012). "A Personal Concierge Service That Will Do Your Errands—And Book You A Yacht on the French Riviera". Business Insider. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  11. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carriehammer/2018/04/04/meet-the-queen-of-luxury/#635bf28cbd05
  12. Jacobs, Emma. "21st Century Butlers". Financial Times. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  13. Anna Tyzack (20 October 2011). "My perfect weekend: Ben Elliot". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  14. "Leaders in Luxury Ben Elliot". Elite Traveler. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  15. Pham, Lisa. "Hey, Big Spender, You Want Value?". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  16. Mark Potter (3 June 2010). "Quintessentially goes upmarket to beat recession". Reuters. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  17. "Business Diary: Ben Elliot, Quintessentially". Financial Times. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  18. King, Jen. "Quintessentially Lifestyle app uses geolocation to curate concierge experience". Luxury Daily. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  19. "Best Friends Victoria Beckham and Eva Longoria Unite for a Good Cause". Hello. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  20. "PageSuite". Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  21. Smale, Will (1 May 2017). "Mr Fixer: The man who can arrange anything for you". BBC News. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  22. "Inside the February issue starring Daisy Ridley". www.tatler.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  23. Angus Watson (4 July 2009). "The TV or Radio Is Always On". Financial Times. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  24. "Quintessentially turns to US investor for loan amid pandemic". www.ft.com. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  25. "Membership To Quintessentially – The Ultimate Christmas Gift". Elite Traveler. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  26. Yan, Cathy. "What's Hot on the Concierge List". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  27. "Quintessentially's Most Extravagant Requests". Esquire. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  28. Kinder, Tabby; Thomas, Daniel (3 March 2020). "'Knowing the right people': the embattled concierge with elite connections". www.ft.com. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  29. "The Quintessentially Foundation Gives Guests The Chance to Play to Their Hand For a Great Cause". Retrieved 6 February 2015.
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