Jaclyn Sienna India established her luxury travel concierge service, Sienna Charles, in 2008 with a bold vision. Initially, she faced skepticism, including doubts from her husband, as they received inquiries for services she didn’t yet provide. “I was like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, we’re so busy, we’re really sold out this season with high-net-worth people,’” she recounted, despite having no clients at the time.
Fast forward sixteen years, and India now caters to an elite clientele, including notable figures like former President George W. Bush and celebrities such as Mariah Carey. Her clients typically earn over $100 million annually, prompting the question: what unique services does India offer that they cannot find elsewhere?
India emphasizes the importance of emotional connection in her work. “My clients are much more powerful than me, but it’s care that gets things done,” she noted, sharing her background as a server and how it helped her understand people better. Sienna Charles features an expansive network, boasting a “black book” of over 2,000 contacts within the hospitality sector, enabling her to craft extraordinary travel and dining experiences.
India detailed how she works closely with her clients to interpret their visions. “They already see what they want; they just don’t have the tools, time, or creativity to make it happen,” she explained. Her knack for grasping her clients’ dreams and bringing them to life is a key aspect of her service.
While providing exclusive access to elite venues is part of what she does, India prioritizes meaningful experiences. “I don’t think French Laundry in Napa is really that exciting, so I don’t sell it,” she stated, preferring instead to recommend more unique offerings, such as experiences at Single Thread Farms.
Her creations often include extraordinary events, such as a candlelit dinner in Versailles or a brunch on the Arc de Triomphe. In addition to unique meals, she also arranges meetings with influential personalities, having facilitated breakfast with the Hermes family and lunch with the Fendi family in Rome.
At times, her clients ask for something simpler. For instance, when Bush visited Ethiopia, she ensured he was provided with familiar comforts like peanut butter and non-alcoholic beer, greeting him with local children dressed in Texas Rangers caps.
“I genuinely care about people,” India expressed, explaining her hands-on approach in finding the most intriguing options for her clients. “The world is not just luxury. It’s about authentic experiences, and that’s what my clients seek.”