Quintessentially Group
{{short description|British concierge company founded in 2000}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Quintessentially Group
| logo =
| logo_size = 200px
| former_name =
| type = Privately held company
| industry = Lifestyle management
| founded = 2000
| founders = Aaron Simpson
Ben Elliot
Paul Drummond
| hq_location = London, England
| hq_location_country = United Kingdom
| num_locations = 40+
| key_people = Darren Ellis, Group CEO
| products =
| brands =
| services = Concierge and Lifestyle Management services{{cite web| url=https://www.forbes.com/2003/02/26/cx_as_0226feat.html| title=Beyond The Black Card?| author=Afsun Smith| date=26 February 2003| work=Forbes| access-date=6 February 2015}}
| revenue = US$ 23,100,000 (2018){{cn|date=September 2023}}
| members_year =
| num_employees = 1,000
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{url|quintessentially.com}}
}}
Quintessentially Group is a British lifestyle management company founded in 2000 by Aaron Simpson, Ben Elliot and Paul Drummond.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/29/pressandpublishing.business2 |title=Guardian Media Group: Luxury magazines have designs on readers with the deepest pockets of all |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 January 2011 |location=London |first=James |last=Robinson |date=30 July 2007}} The company is headquartered in London{{cite web |url=http://www1.investhk.gov.hk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2011.09-quintessentially-en.pdf |title=Quintessentially Sees Hong Kong as a Natural Fit for its HQ}} and operates 60 offices worldwide.{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/style/a-gift-so-right-shell-know-you-got-help.html| title=A Gift So Right, She'll Know You Got Help| author=Marrhew Schneier| date=17 December 2014| work=The New York Times| access-date=6 February 2015}} Quintessentially is a members-only "luxury lifestyle management service" that provides concierge services including travel bookings, restaurant recommendations, and access to events.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/08/realestate/08iht-regift6.html|title=When it's the gardener's day offand the topiary really needs a trim|date=8 December 2005|work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905014811/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/08/realestate/08iht-regift6.html?_r=2|url-status=live|archive-date=5 September 2012}}
History
Quintessentially was established in 2000 by Aaron Simpson, Paul Drummond and Ben Elliot.{{cite web|last1=Jacobs|first1=Emma|title=21st Century Butlers|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/90ba14cc-0709-11e0-94f1-00144feabdc0.html|work=Financial Times|access-date=20 December 2010}} Simpson met Drummond at Oxford University and later started the company with business partner Elliot as a small, London-based concierge service.{{cite web| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/my-perfect-weekend/8838178/My-perfect-weekend-Ben-Elliot.html| title=My perfect weekend: Ben Elliot| author=Anna Tyzack| date=20 October 2011| work=The Daily Telegraph| access-date=6 February 2015}} Before founding Quintessentially, Elliot had co-founded K-Bar Plc, a group of nightclubs and bars, and Simpson had worked as a film producer.{{cite web| url=http://www.elitetraveler.com/leaders-in-luxury/ben-elliot| title=Leaders in Luxury Ben Elliot| date=5 February 2009| publisher=Elite Traveler| access-date=6 February 2015}}
From 2002 to 2005, Quintessentially expanded from two offices in the United Kingdom to ten around the world. In 2018 the company reports to over 60+ offices in cities such as Cairo, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles and New York. In 2010, the company was estimated to have about 86,000 subscribers, including 800 billionaires.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-luxury-summit-quintessentially-idUSTRE6522YN20100603|title=Quintessentially goes upmarket to beat recession|author=Mark Potter|date=3 June 2010|access-date=6 February 2015|work=Reuters}} Quintessentially moved its headquarters from Soho to Portland Place in early 2011.{{cite web| url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/37669c60-cff9-11e0-81e2-00144feabdc0.html| title=Business Diary: Ben Elliot, Quintessentially| date=29 August 2011| work=Financial Times| access-date=6 February 2015}} In 2017, it was announced that the company was building a "super yacht" for its members.{{Cite web|url=http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=42fb4a8f-6485-4055-97f7-c74e5e4927e7%7Ctitle=At|title=PageSuite|access-date=30 May 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39691931|title=Mr Fixer: The man who can arrange anything for you|last=Smale|first=Will|date=1 May 2017|publisher=BBC News|access-date=30 May 2017}}
In 2015 Quintessentially created the website for an international escort agency called Le Besoin which was registered at its London headquarters. When revealed by the Financial Times in 2020, they denied any further involvement in the agency, stating they had “created a website for a client launching a dating service”.{{cite news |last1=Kinder |first1=Tabby |last2=Thomas |first2=Daniel |title=Quintessentially concierge service set up escort agency's website |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e49883ec-24eb-4727-8daf-99e3d9e924c4 |access-date=5 August 2021 |date=27 November 2020}}
Since 2019, Ben Elliot has been the Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, with responsibility for fundraising.{{cite news |title=Ben Elliot: Conservative Party money man with A-list connections |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58100884 |access-date=5 August 2021 |work=BBC News |date=5 August 2021}} An accountant’s report described the group's structure as 'opaque and complex'. In January 2021 some of Quintessentially UK Limited's 14 sister companies were up a year late in filing their accounts.{{Cite web|title=Inside the February issue starring Daisy Ridley|url=https://www.tatler.com/article/daisy-ridley-february-2021-cover-star|access-date=2020-12-30|website=www.tatler.com|date=29 December 2020 }} In 2021 professional services firm Deloitte was sought with finding a buyer for Quintessentially.{{Cite news|title=Quintessentially mulls life after Ben Elliot as concierge firm seeks buyers|website=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/markets/article/quintessentially-mulls-life-after-ben-elliot-as-concierge-firm-seeks-buyers-hthrv63qh}}
The company has boasted about how it serves wealthy Russian clients, which includes opening an office in Russia and creating a "dedicated Russian team."{{Cite news |last1=Pickard |first1=Jim |last2=Kinder |first2=Tabby |last3=Thomas |first3=Daniel |date=2022-03-03 |title=Johnson under pressure to sack Tory fundraiser over Russia links |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2ccd61c2-0c4d-48ec-bcda-03ad0bb6f85c |access-date=2022-03-04}} After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the company deleted its webpage that boasted about serving Russian elite clients.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-03 |title=Tory party chairman's company deletes webpage about Russia 'elite' connections |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-chair-ben-elliot-russia-elite-b2027521.html |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=The Independent |language=en}}
Operations
Quintessentially Group is a network of 16 brand services that operate the personal services provided for its private members.{{cite web |author=Matthew Kassel |date=8 March 2012 |title=A Personal Concierge Service That Will Do Your Errands—And Book You A Yacht on the French Riviera |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/quintessentially-private-concierge-service-2012-3 |access-date=6 February 2015 |publisher=Business Insider}} These companies include Travel, Events and Estates,{{cite web| url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2f326b64-66a1-11de-a034-00144feabdc0,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F2f326b64-66a1-11de-a034-00144feabdc0.html%3Fsiteedition%3Dintl&siteedition=intl&_i_referer=| title=The TV or Radio Is Always On| author=Angus Watson| date=4 July 2009| work=Financial Times| access-date=6 February 2015}} and Quintessentially Gifts.
Quintessentially UK Ltd — the holding company for a network of more than 30 businesses, including an art dealership, a florist, an estate agency and a chauffeur service, that cater to wealthy clients — recorded a £3.1m loss in the year to April 30, 2018, its latest available accounts.{{Cite news|title=Quintessentially turns to US investor for loan amid pandemic|url=https://www.ft.com/content/ae42dbc5-1fd2-4054-b42f-37440a65b2ae|access-date=2020-10-26|newspaper=Financial Times|date=25 August 2020 }} Its 2019 published accounts showed revenues were £50m with losses of £4.4m.{{Cite news|title=Nobody home: the story of Quintessentially's Amex bill|url=https://www.ft.com/content/670af5d1-9b7b-4ce4-a6c1-704dd9423af7|newspaper=Financial Times|date=19 January 2022 }}
=Quintessentially Lifestyle=
Quintessentially Lifestyle is a members-only luxury lifestyle management and concierge service. The New York Times called Quintessentially Lifestyle, "The company that transformed the idea of concierge services into 'lifestyle management.'"{{cite news|last1=Pham|first1=Lisa|title=Hey, Big Spender, You Want Value?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/business/global/24concierge.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&|work=The New York Times|date=23 October 2009 |access-date=23 October 2009}} It offers corporate and private memberships that include preferential rates on hotels and other reservations, access to events, luxury gifts, and other services.{{cite web|url=http://www.elitetraveler.com/travel/travel-news/membership-to-quintessentially-the-ultimate-christmas-gift|title=Membership To Quintessentially – The Ultimate Christmas Gift|date=17 October 2008|publisher=Elite Traveler|access-date=6 February 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Yan|first1=Cathy|title=What's Hot on the Concierge List|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/hong-kong/2010/11/24/whats-hot-on-the-concierge-list/|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=24 November 2010 |access-date=24 November 2010}}
Globally, the firm employs more than 1500 Lifestyle Managers in over 60 offices speaking 35 languages.{{cite web|title=Quintessentially's Most Extravagant Requests |url=http://www.esquire.co.uk/culture/article/4698/quintessentiallys-most-extravagant-requests/ |publisher=Esquire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901174330/http://www.esquire.co.uk/culture/article/4698/quintessentiallys-most-extravagant-requests/ |archive-date=2013-09-01 |access-date=22 October 2017}}{{better source needed|date=October 2017|reason=no mention of the number of managers in the archived source}}
Since 2016, the Department for International Trade has paid Quintessentially £1.4 million to introduce Whitehall officials to high-net worth individuals, so they can "network at the highest levels", according to a contract seen by the FT.{{Cite web|last1=Kinder|first1=Tabby|last2=Thomas|first2=Daniel|date=2020-03-03|title='Knowing the right people': the embattled concierge with elite connections|url=https://www.ft.com/content/e1735d36-572e-11ea-a528-dd0f971febbc|access-date=2020-10-26|website=www.ft.com|language=en-GB}}
=Quintessentially Foundation=
Established in June 2008, the Quintessentially Foundation is the charitable arm of the Group. It has raised more than £9,000,000 through various fundraisers, including the annual Poker Night.{{cite web| url=http://chartwell-media.com/journal/the-quintessentially-foundation-gives-guests-the-chance-to-play-their-hand-for-a-great-cause/| title=The Quintessentially Foundation Gives Guests The Chance to Play to Their Hand For a Great Cause| access-date=6 February 2015}}