Jaclyn Sienna India launched her luxury travel concierge service, Sienna Charles, in 2008 with a determination to succeed, even if it meant pretending to be more established than she was. Initially, she received inquiries from potential clients excited to book travel, but at the time, she had no actual clients to speak of. Her early responses typically included feigned busyness and claims of being fully booked for the season.
Fast forward sixteen years, and India’s strategy has proven effective. She now counts several world leaders, including former President George W. Bush, and high-profile celebrities like Mariah Carey among her clientele, all of whom earn over $100 million annually. Her services cater to those who seemingly have it all, yet India offers them something unique.
She believes that contrary to their vast power and social connections, what truly facilitates experiences is a genuine connection and care. With a background as a server, India emphasizes the importance of understanding people’s needs and desires.
Sienna Charles maintains an extensive network in the hospitality sector, boasting over 2,000 connections across luxury hotels, yachts, and fine dining establishments. This extensive relationship building allows India to curate unique travel and dining experiences for her clients.
India explains that her clients often have visions of experiences they want but lack the resources, time, or creativity to bring those ideas to fruition. She prides herself on interpreting her clients’ desires and actualizing them with precision.
Her aim is not only to secure access to exclusive venues but to ensure that the experiences are genuinely valuable. She identifies attractions beyond just luxury; for instance, while she acknowledges the prestige of the French Laundry restaurant, she prefers to recommend other unique dining experiences, such as the farm-to-table offerings at Single Thread Farms.
India often creates extraordinary, personalized events for her clients, such as organizing a candlelit dinner in Versailles or brunch on the Arc de Triomphe. Additionally, she enjoys blending meals with opportunities to meet notable figures, having facilitated breakfasts with the Hermes family and lunches with the Fendi family in Rome.
On occasion, her clients’ requests are more modest. When arranging a trip for Bush in Ethiopia, she ensured he had familiar comforts, such as peanut butter and non-alcoholic beer, and organized for local children to greet him wearing Texas Rangers caps.
India conveys her dedication to her clients by engaging with everyone around her, from cab drivers to restaurant staff, to uncover authentic experiences that transcend mere luxury. For her clients, she curates opportunities that resonate on a deeper level, crafting memorable and meaningful experiences.