When Jaclyn Sienna India established Sienna Charles, a boutique travel concierge, in 2008, she aimed to succeed by projecting confidence even as she was just starting out.
India shared her early struggles, recalling how her husband doubted her ambition when they received calls from potential clients expressing interest in vacations, such as trips to Disney. Despite her assurances that she was too busy with “high-net-worth clients,” she admitted she had no actual clients at that time.
Now, after sixteen years of persistence, India has transformed her business and serves high-profile individuals, including former President George W. Bush and celebrity clients like Mariah Carey, who each earn over $100 million annually. What sets her apart from traditional service providers is her unique ability to connect with clients on a personal level.
“My clients are far more powerful than I am and have vast networks, but true effectiveness comes from care and empathy,” she explained. With a background as a server, India understands the importance of personal connections in delivering exceptional service.
Sienna Charles boasts a vast network of over 2,000 contacts within the hospitality realm, including luxury hotels, restaurants, and yacht services. India’s relationship-building skills enable her to create exclusive and tailored travel experiences for her clients.
She emphasized that her role is to help clarify her clients’ visions and transform them into reality. “They often know what they want to achieve but lack the access and creativity,” she noted.
India is not solely focused on securing exclusive bookings; she also prioritizes meaningful experiences. For example, she has arranged extraordinary dinners like a candlelit meal in Versailles and brunch on the Arc de Triomphe. Moreover, she has curated intimate encounters with influential figures, including breakfast with the Hermes family and lunch with the Fendi family in Rome.
However, sometimes her clients have simpler needs. When Bush visited Ethiopia, she made sure he had familiar comforts like peanut butter and non-alcoholic beer, and he was welcomed by local children wearing Texas Rangers caps.
“I genuinely care about people,” India said, illustrating her dedication to meeting her clients’ diverse desires for authentic experiences that go beyond mere luxury. Her approach includes engaging with everyone in her day-to-day life, from taxi drivers to restaurant staff, in her pursuit of unique options for her clientele.