BL-24 - Flipbook - Page 74
ENTREPRENEURS
having started with orientation tours
getting to know and understand
London, through good conversation
clients sometimes expand the brief
to other areas in their life, both
personally and professionally.
We have advised on schools (even
sending children to my old school:
one of them grew up to become
an intern for us); houses to buy
or rent; procurement of specialist
cars, including Rolls Royces and
Bentleys; the very best sporting guns
and shooting parties; painting and
language tuition; holidays in manor
houses and on country estates (all offgrid luxury, of course).
When tastes are shared, the connection
made is profound and can lead to
some exhilarating opportunities. I
have been out for dinner in Soho and
ended up in Kenya. I once met for a
Manhattan in the American Bar at the
Savoy and ended up in New York.
Another time, I went for breakfast at
the Rosewood in Holborn and ended
up in Acapulco.
I originally met some of these clients
20 years ago: three-quarters of my
clients are repeat business. I have been
to their weddings in Ireland, Paris and
Florence, after introducing them to
dressmakers and tailors.
So you become a friend, a con昀椀dante,
an advisor, turning instinct into
enterprise; and it is proof, in a world
full of algorithms, that intuition still
opens the best doors, and that the most
beautiful moments in life are never to
be found on an itinerary.
In a way, this wide range of services
is a result of the cultural connection
we make, and it is based on a word
that is at the very core of our ethos:
“xenophilia”. It means the love of
strangers: not just to welcome them,
but to celebrate them, to turn a cultural
exchange into an art form. We do not
take visitors out of their comfort zone,
just expand it for them. As a result,
they enjoy a new adventure, and
maybe a new perspective on life.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kelsey Grammer, and Paddy Renouf at the Boisdale
Cigar Smoker of the Year Awards 2014. Background: Tom Parker Bowles, Bill
Knott and Rocco Buonvino
Many of my clients are entrepreneurs
who embody curiosity, discipline
and courage, qualities that turn ideas
into empires. They spot opportunities
others miss, and surround themselves
with capable, trustworthy people.
To them, setbacks are lessons, not
failures. Remarkable people enjoying
a new environment.
To create and curate an exceptional
private tour for them you need equal
measures of curiosity, cultural 昀氀uency
and charm. A deep knowledge of
history, of art and of nuance, paired
with intuition; knowing what will
delight each guest before they know it
themselves.
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Discretion, impeccable manners
and reliability earn trust, while
storytelling, humour and a touch
of theatre make an experience
unforgettable. I want a client to feel
that they’ve travelled not with a guide,
but with a worldly friend who opens
doors. For my part, it has taken me all
over the world.
It’s a fantastic and deeply rewarding
thing to be doing. That aggressive
Corporal of Horse was completely
right 40 years ago: people follow me
to see exactly what is going to happen
next!
Discover more about Paddy
Renouf’s unique talents at
serendipitybyrenouf.com
