When Jaclyn Sienna India established her travel concierge company, Sienna Charles, in 2008, she was committed to projecting confidence as she built her business. Initially, she faced skepticism from her husband, especially when they received inquiries from would-be clients about travel plans, despite not having any actual clients at the time.
Fast forward sixteen years, and her strategy of presenting herself as an established concierge has yielded impressive results. India has since attracted influential clients, including former President George W. Bush and celebrities like Mariah Carey. Her services cater to high-net-worth individuals, specifically those earning over $100 million a year.
India believes her approach goes beyond simply providing luxury; it’s about genuine care and attention. Drawing on her earlier experience as a server for five years, she understands the importance of connecting with people and catering to their needs.
Sienna Charles boasts an extensive network of over 2,000 contacts within the hospitality sector, including exclusive hotels, restaurants, and yacht services. This network allows her to create unique travel and dining experiences tailored to her clients’ desires.
India emphasized that her clients often have grand visions but lack the necessary resources or creativity to realize them. She prides herself on capturing those visions quickly and bringing them to life.
Her aim isn’t just to grant access to the most high-profile venues; she focuses on ensuring her clients have fulfilling experiences. For example, while she acknowledges the reputation of renowned restaurants like the French Laundry, she prefers to recommend other extraordinary dining options, such as Single Thread Farms, which she finds more appealing.
Her services have led to once-in-a-lifetime experiences for her clients, such as orchestrating a candlelit dinner at Versailles or a brunch atop the Arc de Triomphe. She also arranges unique interactions with influential figures, like hosting meals with the Hermes and Fendi families.
At times, her clients seek simpler comforts. For instance, when former President Bush traveled to Ethiopia, she made sure he had familiar comforts, including peanut butter and non-alcoholic beer, and arranged for children to greet him wearing Texas Rangers baseball caps.
India emphasizes her genuine care for others, often engaging with everyone from cab drivers to restaurant staff to uncover the most interesting experiences for her clients. She believes that the world encompasses far more than just luxury and that her clients crave authenticity in their travels.