We are back in Nuria Roca’s magazine!

📺 Did you get to see Lourdes Carbó S.’s intervention on the magazine La Roca, on La Sexta TV?

It was Sunday 10 September!

👁️ If you click on the link you can watch the video!
(from minute 01:43:50)

🔗 La Roca (10-09-23)

Once again, thank you very much for giving visibility to our profession!
 
 
 

We are news in the newspaper EL MUNDO

We are the news in the newspaper EL MUNDO

📰 Did you read the newspaper the day after the elections in Spain?

 

You probably found this…

https://www.elmundo.es/papel/historias/2023/07/23/64bc219de4d4d865108b45b0.html

 

Yes, we are news too!

 

💥 Although we live immersed in the world of silent luxury, sometimes we know how to generate buzz.

Editor: Marisa del Bosque
Photo: GORKA LOINAZ ARABA PRESS

 

Here is the interview translated into English ↘

 

 

SUMMER

The manager who pulls the strings of Spain’s super millionaires: “Sometimes you have to stop and put your feet on the ground”

 
 
Behind the main fortunes of our country is Lourdes Carbó, a ‘personal angel’ who attends  their needs and whims at all costs. In one week they can spend up to two million euros. This is the regular basis of her profession at the highest demand.
 
 
 

Carbó at the terrace of the Antares Tower, one of the most luxurious skyscrapers in Barcelona

 

GORKA LOINAZARABA PRESS

 

From arranging a private plane to getting an invitation to the exclusive Monaco Rose Ball, where Lana del Rey was giving her only concert of the season, specifically the one a teenager wanted to see to celebrate a special date. Lourdes Carbó is capable of achieving that and almost everything, from the simplest to the most complicated requests. “Sometimes so much that you don’t even know where to begin,” she assures.

 

Carbó works as a personal angel, the unknown figure in the shadows who makes life easier for that tiny percentage of millionaires who make their fortunes in our country. A small club that, on the same day,  can afford breakfast on deck with French champagne at Miami’s coastline along with oysters for dinner, while watching the sunset in a mansion in Tuscany, without, of course, worrying about moving or packing a suitcase, booking a hotel, buying a ticket or any of the other mundane tasks faced by those who already consider it a luxury to take a few days off the calendar to spread out their towel on a beach.

 

Far from that condition, for the tiny segment of the population with six zeros in their current account – almost 3% of Spaniards, according to Credit Suisse’s Global Wealth Report – ,enjoying a well-deserved holiday is stress-free since there is nothing to think about: their favourite flowers will be in the vase, cut to the right size and placed in the right position, the caviar will be cooling in the fridge and the yacht will be ready to set sail.

 

We are talking about rich, very rich. “They are families exceptionally distinct with the rest of society, with very complicated and extraordinary lives, who take 22 people to the other side of the world, to the Hamptons, to celebrate their grandmother’s birthday. As expected, none of the invited pack a suitcase and when they get there they have nothing to do, since everything is already done. That’s part of their tranquility and our duty to fulfill,” remarks Lourdes Carbó, founder of Alberta La Grup, a Spanish company that has become the world’s third largest personal assistant agency for high net worth individuals, social elites and the very successful.

 

How big? Huge. Last year, Forbes magazine counted 28 multimillionaires in Spain, considering only those with assets worth more than one billion dollars. Far behind them, but also in the economic stratosphere, another 246,500 people exceed one million, according to the consultancy Cap Gemini, with figures from 2021. “These are families who may have 400 domestic servants on their payroll and own an average of five residences – some as many as 12 – around the world, people who don’t hesistate to spend 6,000 euros for a night in a hotel or a bottle of wine”.

 

Carbó’s clients, eight at the moment, have a “brutal” economic level. “We don’t wonder what they want, we just make it happen,” she claims. “We are the CEO of their private lives, because we don’t deal with any corporate issues, we are there to make the company, the family, work”.

 

Furthermore, Carbó’s clients have all sorts of requests, specially in summer, when these angels hit the working peak. “The turnover is huge, we operate with a lot of money: a family can spend two million euros in a week,” she states. “So, although we have our own holidays and private lives, like everyone else, we never rest, because things are always happening and you are there to sort them out, whatever it takes; it’s very difficult to separate private life from work.

 

“We are like the validos of the 21st century, the right hand of the powerful”

As an anecdote, she recalls interrupting her days off to drive a luxury car to a villa where a family was demanding it. “It’s not that much of a sacrifice to drive that kind of car, is it? Specially with the gas is paid for. You don’t get that opportunity every day,” she says. “This profession allows you to travel in a different way and to live experiences that would otherwise be unattainable”.

 

Her company, which she set up as a limited company in 2011 after capitalising the Spanish unemployement, began by providing services to three families. Now 18 multilingual people work for her – some speak up to seven languages, including Arabic, and Lourdes, five – and they are mainly operate in Switzerland, Dubai, Paris, Monaco, New York and Miami. They manage a network capable of handling anything and anywhere in the world: “The important thing is to know how to move around and contact the expert who can help you; the key is your agenda, if you have contacts, everything is easier,” she says.

 

These types of companies follow a pyramid scheme: only the angel staff deal with the family, while behind them a whole network of professionals manage any need. For example: solving the theft of the yacht’s dinghy, organising an extra weekend on a Greek island for a teenage girl with her friends or organising 12 dinners with as many different chefs. “But under one condition:  that they have to be the best in the world, all with Michelin stars. Families know very well what they want and will pay whatever it takes. And we don’t question it, we manage it. I like to say that we are like the validos of the 21st century, the right hand of the powerful”.

 

And doesn’t that go to one’s head? “We know what’s in that world, but we are not part of it, it’s not ours. The families we serve make decisions without accounting money, they are looking for experiences. But we also get them discounts, and they like it. Sometimes when we say: ‘It’s a great price’, we stop to weigh and…. Sheesh, you have to stop and put your feet on the ground,” Carbó replies confidently.

 

She is the best definition of silent luxury, stealth wealth disguised as simplicity. “In this social stratum there are many symbols that make it clear what category you belong to, whether you are nouveau riche, rich de pedigree or just plain rich. And, yes, you can learn them. In fact, you should learn them, because they are decisive, for example, when it comes to hiring a yacht: “You have to know which one to look for; there are some basic minimums that you need to acknowledge”.

 

It is something so simple yet so complicated for those who do not move in these circles, like checking that the measurements of a private plane are sufficient to allow you to enter it standing upright. “Imagine the situation if the family has to bend down when the day comes,” she remarks.

 

At what point does someone consider being an achiever? Carbó worked at the corporate level, as as Presidence secretary, and was often asked to help with private matters. “I had colleagues who hated it, but I enjoyed doing it, I found it a challenge. Later, when the family left for North America, I decided to stay and work for them from here, on a personal level. I had discovered this type of business:  Concierge companies, in London, and I already had the idea in my mind, I wasn’t discovering fire.

 

After that, word of mouth did the job, because in this kind of business nothing is advertised. “Our clients only know what’s going on at home, nothing else; we even work for the families of two brothers who don’t know about it.

 

Anyone who wants to start a service like this can do so without a problem, Carbó insists. “You don’t need much: a computer, a mobile phone and contacts. And work long hours. Has it been easy? No. Can anyone do it? Yes. We work 24/7, but it’s well paid. I’m very ant-like and cautious,” she argues, playing it down.

 

But the reality is that their work is very well paid: again, another six figure payroll. These are the ones that reward responsibility; the angel staff know the family’s sensitive information, they know what side of the bed everyone sleeps on, whether they will want the yellow or green dishes, how they like to organise their clothes in the drawers, they have the house keys and passwords…. And, above all, they pay for “absolute discretion”, the key to the success of their work.

 

“Without it, you have little future,” she says. “It’s about achieving the objective (whatever the request) without collateral damage. We are not experts in anything, but we know where to find them. Our job is similar to that of a journalist: we know where to look. There is money to be made, but there is also a lot of stress, you never finish.

 

Part of the merit lies, also, in moving on two sides. “You have to know perfectly what the family is like, their tastes, but you also need to persuade those on the other side. For example, the person who has to go down to the beach to check whether the sand is white or black. And you also need to get them to come down to check it happily and to want to collaborate with you, so that you don’t get an unpleasant surprise afterwards. You depend on them and you have to use their language.

 

Carbó describes it in a way that seems simple, but it may not be so simple when it is a profession within the reach of few. What do you have to have to be able to do this? I insist. “We have made a list that includes 137 skills. We could think of more, but never less. And it doesn’t mean you have to have all of them, although there are some that are fundamental, in addition to discretion, languages and empathy”.

 

That is why they set up The Lifestyle Institute, a unique school in the world directed by her which is the first in Europe to train these discreet and efficient professionals who manage the private lives of the elite. “It came about out of necessity, we couldn’t find qualified people to do the job. I have been self-taught, anyone can, but it takes longer and you’d suffer, hence our course,” she says.

“If you once jump through the hoop of something you don’t like, you’ll have to do it every time”

 

No matter how talented they were, it took an average of four to six months for those aspiring to find a job with Lourdes Carbó to become somewhat comofortable, a time she did not have. “That’s why the postgraduate thing started. I started with the intention of outlining what is needed to enhance the skills of those who are interested in becoming angels so that they would be up to the task. This profession is exciting, but only for a minority, even though there are a few thousand millionaires. It must be preserved”. So far, there have already been two official calls for applications for her master’s degree, last one being this past June.

 

In all this time, hasn’t there been anything that has made you think that it has got out of hand? I ask her. “Yes, of course. For example, the day I had to ship bottles of water of a certain brand to the other side of the world, to a Eurasian country. They needed it to wash their hair, because it had the right mineral composition to give them the texture they wanted”.

 

Along with this frivolity, there are other extravagances that don’t work out, such as when she had to fill a house with 6,000 little glasses each containing a rosebud. “He wanted to surprise his partner, a much younger woman, but he didn’t get the effect he was looking for and she didn’t like to come in and see all that. We had to make them disappear almost immediately, we had to destroy something that had cost us millions in seconds”.

 

There are many other moments that fill her with pride. For example, when she managed, in extremis, to find lost medical tests at MD Anderson Cancer Center: “We felt it was crucial to find them and we did it thanks to the help of a nurse who went around the building opening drawers left and right. We are there on a day-to-day basis, both during festive events and in delicate situations.

 

Have you ever had to stop your client and say ‘this is it’? “Of course, if you once jump through the hoop of something you don’t like, you will have to do it every time. I have had to stop working with three families, because there are also some families that you don’t like. And the way you leave also has to be precise; it’s not as simple as saying goodbye”.

 

-Are we talking about a request that borders on the law?

 

-No, I simply understood that it was not the way of doing things. And I didn’t do it,” she concludes.

 

Translation: Mario Ruiz Blanco

Enrichment in Lifestyle Management: The constant drive to acquire new knowledge and keep up with the times

Editorial The Lifestyle Institute | Author: María José Núñez | July 2023

Enrichment: One way to describe the meaning of it would be that insatiable desire to expand your knowledge, to always be curious and to keep abreast of each and every situation that comes our way.  Enrichment is indeed another quintessential concept of service in the different roles within of Lifestyle Management. Here’s why…

(Sigue en español)

 

“Knowledge is life with wings”

(William Blake)

 

Enrichment: One way to describe the meaning of it would be that insatiable desire to expand your knowledge, to always be curious and to keep abreast of each and every situation that comes our way.  Enrichment is indeed another quintessential concept of service in the different roles within of Lifestyle Management. Here’s why…

 

The verb itself refers to the action and effect of enriching, but not in the literal and ‘financial’ sense of the word, but rather meaning ‘to elevate’ a person, and prospering notably as a result.

 

Why do you think this ‘elevation’ and ambition to know more about everything exists within all the different professions within the Lifestyle Management sector? Simply put, it’s because these professions require more than basic wisdom. A Personal Angel, for example, must be up to date with everything that is happening around them: the artistic world, real estate, gastronomy, the nautical panorama… Everything that surrounds the universe and lifestyle of their client, their status, their environment and anything else that could add that ‘wow factor’ that is needed in this constant learning experience of being a Personal Angel.

 

The next reason for the personal enrichment of individuals that provide assistance and service… He or she is immersed in different topics, content, details and knowledge in order to carry out his or her work. But it does not stop there… This persevering and desire to keep up to date becomes an incessant pursuit, provoked by curiosity and, especially, knowing how to live up to expectations and be ready to face whatever situations might occur in daily life.

 

We wonder, is there anything better than dedicating your work to something that brings you perpetual enrichment? We’re sure you already know the answer.

Translation: Emily Benton
Photo Credits: Unsplash

Copyright ©by Alberta La Grup

If you wish to re-print this article or photos, that’s fine. Just include the biography at the end of the article. Thank you!

El enriquecimiento en el lifestyle management: ese ímpetu constante por adquirir nuevos conocimientos y estar al día  

Editorial The Lifestyle Institute | Autora: María José Núñez | Julio 2023

 

El enriquecimiento… Ese deseo insaciable de ampliar nuevos conocimientos, de sentir siempre curiosidad y de estar al día de todas y cada una de las situaciones que se nos presentan. Ésa sería la forma en la que podríamos definir lo que significa. Sí, el enriquecimiento es otro de los conceptos de la quinta esencia del servicio en los diferentes roles del ámbito del Lifestyle Management. Y a continuación, te contamos por qué…

 

 

“El conocimiento es vida con alas”

(William Blake)

 

 

 

El vocablo, como tal, viene a referirse a la acción y efecto de enriquecer, pero no en el sentido literario y ‘financiero’ de la palabra, sino en lo referente a ‘engrandecer’ a la persona, y por ende, prosperar notablemente, tal y como señalan en la RAE.

 

¿Por qué crees que se produce ese ‘engrandecimiento’ y ambición por saber más y de todo en todas las profesiones que abarcan el sector del Lifestyle Management? Sencillamente, porque requiere de algo más que una ‘sabiduría popular’. Un Personal Angel, por ejemplo, debe estar actualizado sobre todo lo que acontece a su alrededor: el panorama artístico, inmobiliario, gastronómico, naútico… Lo que envuelve al universo y estilo de vida de su cliente, su estatus, su entorno y aquello que puede aportar ese ‘plus’ que se necesita en esta carrera constante que es la de ser un Ángel Personal.

 

Y ahí viene la siguiente razón por la que se produce ese enriquecimiento personal del individuo que ejerce la asistencia y servicio… Se empapa de temas, contenido, detalles y conocimientos con el objetivo de llevar a cabo su trabajo. Pero no se queda ahí únicamente… Esa búsqueda perseverante y tenaz para estar al corriente se transforma en un incesante seguimiento, provocado por la curiosidad y, especialmente, el interés por saber estar a la altura y reaccionar frente a los escenarios que se produzcan en el día a día.

Traducción: Emily Benton
Foto: Unsplash

Copyright ©by Alberta La Grup

If you wish to re-print this article or photos, that’s fine. Just include the biography at the end of the article. Thank you!

 

‘Savoir Faire’: Attention to detail, impeccable service and emotional intelligence

Editorial The Lifestyle Institute | Author: María José Núñez | June 2023

 

 

Know-how, paying attention to the finer details, sincerity, simplicity and a warm smile.  In other words, being a Lifestyle Management professional means having an exquisite awareness of everything that surrounds us. That’s how a Personal Angel, and, of course, Alberta La Grup, works… Would you like to explore the concept of ‘savoir faire’ in more detail with us? Well, here we go!

(Sigue en español)

 

As many people know, ‘savoir faire’ is a French expression that means ‘to know how to do something’ and refers to doing something intelligently; using wisdom when faced with challenges, and always with the best of judgement. It can also allude to elegance and serenity…

 

It is therefore considered one of the most important elements of excellent service; to have that je ne sais quoi – that extra level of delicacy and perceptiveness that makes a Personal Angel, Residential Concierge and Butler know how to act at all times: to be sharp and astute in the details; to be professional yet humble, outstanding in their actions but with their feet on the ground; and with professionalism based on kindness, yet to ability to be direct when needed.

 

We could say that it is an (almost) perfect balance of exquisite and refined qualities within the same person… A Personal Angel knows how to react in every situation: at an executive dinner with more than 300 guests, at an art auction attended by millionaires, in everyday problems that arise in their client’s life or even when having to change languages several times in the same conversation… The circumstances are as diverse as individuals, behaviours and cultural codes.

 

 

“Don’t be a perfectionist, be excellent”

(Bernardo Stamateas, psychologist)

 

Savoir faire: As difficult to pronounce correctly as it is to possess. However, finding it in Personal Angels is truly wonderful: A magical and apparently innate touch, even if behind it there is a long journey of different experiences, training and learning that expands knowledge of the field that they move within in.

 

Translation: Emily Benton
Photo Credits: Unsplash

Copyright ©by Alberta La Grup

If you wish to re-print this article or photos, that’s fine. Just include the biography at the end of the article. Thank you!

El 'Savoir Faire': atención al detalle, trato impecable e inteligencia emocional  

Editorial The Lifestyle Institute | Autora: María José Núñez | Junio 2023

 

Saber hacer, prestar importancia a los pormenores, siempre con sinceridad, sencillez y una cálida sonrisa. En definitiva, con una sensibilidad exquisita para percatarse de todo lo que nos envuelve… Así son las profesiones relacionados con el Lifestyle Management. De ese modo, trabaja un Personal Angel… Y, por supuesto, Alberta La Grup… ¿Quieres analizar un poco más el concepto ‘savoir faire’ con nosotros? ¡Pues allá vamos!

 

Como bien sabemos, ‘savoir faire’ es una expresión francesa que significa ‘saber hacer’ y que se refiere a hacer algo de manera inteligente, con sabiduría ante las complejidades que se interponen en tu camino, con criterio, y por supuesto, con el mejor de los juicios. Con serenidad y elegancia, también se podría añadir…

 

Por ello, es una de las claves de un servicio excelente; tener ese ‘no sé sabe bien qué’ pero tenerlo… Ese ‘plus’ de delicadeza y/o perceptibilidad que hace un Personal Angel, Residential Concierge y Mayordomo sepa cómo actuar en todo momento: ser agudo y perspicaz en los detalles; ser profesional a la par que humilde, sobresaliente en sus acciones pero con los pies en la tierra; y con la amabilidad por bandera pero obrando siempre con franqueza.

 

Podríamos decir que se trata de un equilibrio (casi) perfecto de exquisitas y refinadas cualidades en una misma persona… Un Personal Angel sabe cómo reaccionar en cada situación: en una distinguida cena con más de 300 comensales, en una subasta millonaria de una obra pictórica, en problemas cotidianos que se presenten en la vida de su cliente o teniendo que cambiar de idioma varias veces en una misma conversación… Las circunstancias son tan diversas como lo son los individuos, los comportamientos y los códigos culturales.

 

 

“No seas perfeccionista, sé excelente”

(Bernardo Stamateas, psicólogo)

 

 

Así es… el ‘savoir faire’ es tan difícil de pronunciar correctamente como disponer de dicha habilidad o destreza. Y es fantástico encontrarlo en la figura de los Personal Angels… Un toque mágico y aparentemente innato, aunque tras ello exista un recorrido de experiencias, formación y conocimiento del entorno.

 

Traducción: Emily Benton
Foto: Unsplash

Copyright ©by Alberta La Grup

If you wish to re-print this article or photos, that’s fine. Just include the biography at the end of the article. Thank you!

 

“We can do anything, or almost anything, our residents ask us to do, as long as it is aligned with our values”

Interview with Carme Casajuana, Lifestyle Concierge at Alberta La Grup

Editorial The Lifestyle Institute | Author: María José Núñez | May 2023

 

“After graduating in Tourism and Hotel Management, I worked as a receptionist and Concierge in several hotels. During the pandemic, the tourism world came to a standstill and I got a call from Alberta La Grup offering me the opportunity to become a Lifestyle Concierge. At the time, I didn’t really know what to expect as it was completely new to me. But I’ve been part of this fantastic team for almost two years now and I’m delighted!”. This is how Carme Casajuana, Lifestyle Concierge at Alberta La Grup, tells us about her career up to this point. Her main responsibility is to provide a personalised and exclusive Concierge services to the residents of Torre Antares. With the same kindness and enthusiasm with which she carries out her professional responsibilities, she answered some questions about the exciting world of Lifestyle Management.

(Sigue en español)

“After graduating in Tourism and Hotel Management, I worked as a receptionist and Concierge in several hotels. During the pandemic, the tourism world came to a standstill and I got a call from Alberta La Grup offering me the opportunity to become a Lifestyle Concierge. At the time, I didn’t really know what to expect as it was completely new to me. But I’ve been part of this fantastic team for almost two years now and I’m delighted!”. This is how Carme Casajuana, Lifestyle Concierge at Alberta La Grup, tells us about her career up to this point. Her main responsibility is to provide a personalised and exclusive Concierge services to the residents of Torre Antares. With the same kindness and enthusiasm with which she carries out her professional responsibilities, she answered some questions about the exciting world of Lifestyle Management.

 

 

-Could you explain to us what exactly Lifestyle Concierge is?

A Lifestyle Concierge is in charge of offering personalised and exclusive services to the clients and residents of a building, in order to improve their quality of life and provide them with a unique and comfortable experience. The day-to-day life of a Concierge is very varied and no two days are the same. From organising cleaning services for residents, offering recommendations and making restaurant reservations to organising their next getaway, or preparing all the ‘paperwork’ such as changing utility bills and registering them so that their arrival at the building is as smooth as possible… and a whole host of other things. In short, we can do everything, or almost everything, that our residents ask us to do, as long as it is in line with our values.

 

 

-To what extent is training important to be a Lifestyle Concierge?

Having previous training and experience in Hospitality and Tourism, as well as interpersonal and Customer Service skills, can make a big difference in the quality of service offered to residents. I would also recommend taking the Postgraduate course offered by The Lifestyle Institute, which offers the opportunity to learn new knowledge and develop these skills.

 

 

“No two days are the same… And that’s the most exciting part of my job!”

 

 

-What qualities, skills, languages, etc. should someone interested in this career have?

To be a Lifestyle Concierge, it is important to have a combination of interpersonal and technical skills, as well as good organisational and adaptability skills. It is also very important to have a good education, good manners and a sense of hospitality. In addition, the more fluent you are in several languages, the better… but English is paramount, as most of the clients are foreign.

 

 

-We know that each day in this profession can be totally different, but could you describe a day in your working life?

That’s right, no two days are the same… and that’s the most exciting thing about my job! However, I always start the day by checking the previous day’s tasks, emails and messages to see what has happened in my absence. From there, together with my colleagues, we manage the requests of the residents.

I am also in charge of contacting and looking for new suppliers to offer the latest services to our residents. There are always things to do… You never get bored!

 

– How would you say that this profession has changed your life?

This profession makes me constantly learn, as having to deal with a wide variety of requests and situations means that you are acquiring new knowledge on a daily basis. It has also made me develop skills that I didn’t know I had before, and above all, it has made me more aware of the latest trends and developments in the city, whether in terms of restaurants, shops and cultural events, or any other place of interest to residents.

 

 

“More and more people are willing to pay for a personalised service that allows them to optimise their free time and enjoy unique experiences”

 

– How do you see the future of this profession, both in Spain and internationally?

Lifestyle Concierge has experienced significant growth in recent years, both in Spain and internationally. As life becomes busier and time becomes a valuable resource, more and more people are willing to pay for a personalised service that allows them to optimise their free time and enjoy unique experiences.

It is true that in Spain there is still a long way to go to reach the same level of recognition as in other countries, but little by little, we are making a place for ourselves. In the future, there is sure to be a need for these services in various environments. However, more awareness is needed, as most of the population does not know exactly what the work of a Lifestyle Concierge consists of and how they can benefit from their services.

Translation: Emily Benton
Photo: Alberta La Grup

 

 

 

Copyright ©by Alberta La Grup

If you wish to re-print this article or photos, that’s fine. Just include the biography at the end of the article. Thank you!

 

“En un futuro próximo, la profesión de Lifestyle Concierge estará muy demandada, no sólo en el sector del lujo”

Entrevista con Carme Casajuana, Lifestyle Concierge de Alberta La Grup

 

 

Editorial The Lifestyle Institute | Autora: María José Núñez | Mayo 2023

 

“Después de graduarme en Turismo y Dirección Hotelera, trabajé como recepcionista y Concierge en varios hoteles. Durante la pandemia, el mundo del Turismo se paralizó y me llamaron de Alberta La Grup ofreciéndome la oportunidad de ser Lifestyle Concierge. En ese momento, no sabía muy bien lo que me esperaba, ya que era un campo nuevo para mí. Pero ya hace casi 2 años que formo parte de este fantástico equipo y ¡estoy encantada!”. Así nos cuenta Carme Casajuana, Lifestyle Concierge de Alberta La Grup, su trayectoria hasta llegar hasta aquí. Su función principal es brindar un servicio de Concierge personalizado y exclusivo a los residentes de la Torre Antares. Y con la misma amabilidad y entusiasmo con el que ejerce su profesión, nos contestó a una serie de preguntas acerca de este apasionante universo que conforma el Lifestyle Management.

 

-¿Podrías explicarnos qué es exactamente la figura del Lifestyle Concierge?

El Lifestyle Concierge se encarga de ofrecer servicios personalizados y exclusivos a los clientes y residentes de un edificio, con el fin de mejorar su calidad de vida y proporcionarles una experiencia única y cómoda. El día a día de un Concierge es muy variado y no hay dos días iguales. Nos encargamos desde organizar servicios de limpieza para los residentes, ofrecer recomendaciones y hacer reservas de restaurantes hasta organizar su próxima escapada hasta preparar todo el ‘papeleo’, como cambio de titulares de los suministros, empadronarse para que su llegada al edificio sea lo más fácil posible… y un sin fin de cosas más. En resumen, podemos hacer todo o casi todo lo que nos pidan nuestros residentes, siempre y cuando esté alineado con nuestros valores.

 

 

-¿Hasta qué punto es importante la formación para ser Lifestyle Concierge?

 Tener una formación y experiencia previa en áreas relacionadas con la Hostelería y el Turismo, así como habilidades interpersonales y de Atención al Cliente, puede marcar una gran diferencia en la calidad del servicio que se ofrece a los residentes. También realizar el Postgrado que ofrece The Lifestyle Institute, que ofrece la oportunidad de aprender nuevos conocimientos y desarrollar estas habilidades.

 

 

 

“Ningún día es igual a otro… ¡Y eso es lo más emocionante de mi trabajo!”

 

 

 

-¿Qué cualidades, aptitudes, idiomas, etcétera… debe tener la persona que se quiere dedicar a esto?

Para ser Lifestyle Concierge, es importante tener una combinación de habilidades interpersonales y técnicas, así como una buena capacidad de organización y adaptación. También es muy importante disponer de buena educación, saber estar y sentimiento de

hospitalidad. Además, cuanta más fluidez tengas en varios idiomas, mejor… pero el inglés es primordial, ya que la mayoría de los clientes son extranjeros.

 

 

Sabemos que cada día en esta profesión puede ser absolutamente diferente, pero ¿podrías describirnos un día en tu vida laboral?

Correcto. Ningún día es igual a otro… ¡y eso es lo más emocionante de mi trabajo! No obstante, siempre empiezo la jornada revisando las tareas del día anterior, los emails y los mensajes, para saber lo que ha sucedido durante mi ausencia. A partir de aquí, junto con mis compañeros, gestionamos las peticiones de los residentes.

También soy la encargada de contactar y buscar nuevos proveedores para ofrecer las últimas novedades en servicios a nuestros residentes. Siempre hay cosas que hacer… ¡Nunca te aburres!

 

 

-¿De qué manera podrías decir que esta profesión ha cambiado tu vida?

Esta profesión me hace estar constantemente aprendiendo, pues al tener que lidiar con una amplia variedad de solicitudes y situaciones, hace que vayas adquiriendo nuevos conocimientos día a día. También me ha hecho desarrollar habilitades que antes desconocía que tenía, y sobre todo, me ha hecho estar más al día de las últimas tendencias y novedades en la ciudad, ya sea en términos de restaurantes, tiendas y eventos culturales, como cualquier otro lugar de interés para los residentes.

 

 

“Cada vez son más las personas que están dispuestas a pagar por un servicio personalizado que les permita optimizar su tiempo libre y disfrutar de experiencias únicas”

 

 

-¿Cuál es la proyección de futuro que auguras para esta profesión, tanto en España como internacionalmente?

El Lifestyle Concierge ha experimentado un crecimiento significativo en los últimos años, tanto en España como a nivel internacional. A medida que la vida se vuelve más ocupada y el tiempo se convierte en un recurso valioso, cada vez más personas están dispuestas a pagar por un servicio personalizado que les permita optimizar su tiempo libre y disfrutar de experiencias únicas.

Es cierto que en España le queda un largo camino por recorrer para alcanzar el mismo nivel de reconocimiento que tiene en otros países, pero poco a poco, nos estamos haciendo un lugar. Y en un futuro, seguro que habrá esta necesidad en varios entornos. No obstante, se debe dar a conocer más, ya que la mayoría de la población no sabe exactamente en qué consiste el trabajo de un Lifestyle Concierge y cómo pueden beneficiarse de sus servicios.

Traducción: Emily Benton
Foto: Alberta La Grup

 

Copyright ©by Alberta La Grup

If you wish to re-print this article or photos, that’s fine. Just include the biography at the end of the article. Thank you!

Lourdes Carbó talks about the Personal Angels with Luis Herrero on ES RADIO

Lourdes Carbó, founder and CEO at Alberta La Grup and The Lifestyle Institute, spoke in ‘En Casa de Herrero’, from ES RADIO.

➡️ The whole programme:
https://esradio.libertaddigital.com/fonoteca/2023-03-24/las-noticias-de-herrero-polemica-trans-en-las-oposiciones-a-policia-en-torrelodones-6999271.html

Cristina Martí in the magazine “Juntos” on TeleMadrid

Cristina Martí, Personal Angel and Lifestyle Manager at Alberta La Grup and lecturer at The Lifestyle Institute, spoke for ‘Juntos’, a magazine on Telemadrid.

We share with you an excerpt from the interview, where she explained the important role played by Personal Angels. ⤵️

March, 2023

➡️ The whole programme: Juntos 21.03.2023 (telemadrid.es)
(from the 53rd minute)

 

Proactivity: How a Personal Angel uses intuition and imagination to anticipate customer needs

Editorial The Lifestyle Institute | Author: María José Núñez | May 2023

 

 

A Personal Angel must possess intuition and imagination, which are the main skills required to be able to anticipate the client’s needs before they are even aware of them. In other words, nothing is left to chance.

(Sigue en español)

 

 

That is precisely what proactivity is. Having a proactive attitude and actively taking control is what it’s all about.

 

 

“It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses, we must plant more roses”

(George Eliot)

 

It may be a word that has been overused in the workplace in recent years, but it is a word that encourages an attitude that is always required, especially in the most creative professions: doing things without being told. Quite simply, to be fully aware of what our objectives are, and in the case of lifestyle management, to carry them out with skill, delicacy, excellence and efficiency; being our top of the class for our client, and foreseeing what is going through their mind without even knowing what they need, require or what makes them happy.

 

Could we say proactivity one of the keys to being a Personal Angel? Yes, and beyond that, it may be what truly defines what it means to be a good personal assistant. Our job is not just about taking action, but also everything that goes before it: confidence, determination, experience, client knowledge, exquisite instinct and a keen eye for detail. It is very simple and complex at the same time… Or as the writer Mario Benedetti said: “I like people who vibrate, who don’t have to be pushed, who don’t have to be told to do things, but who know what needs to be done and do it”. That’s how we are… And that’s how we help others to fly.

Translation: Emily Benton
Photo Credits: Unsplash

Copyright ©by Alberta La Grup

If you wish to re-print this article or photos, that’s fine. Just include the biography at the end of the article. Thank you!

La proactividad: cómo intuye e imagina un Personal Angel para adelantarse a las necesidades del cliente

Editorial The Lifestyle Institute | Autora: María José Núñez | Mayo 2023

 

Un Personal Angel ha de poseer intuición e imaginación, que son los principales dones que se requieren para ser capaces de anticiparse a las necesidades del cliente… antes, por supuesto, de que éste se haya dado cuenta. Es decir, no hay nada que se deje al azar.

 

Y eso es precisamente la proactividad. Tener una actitud proactiva… En ello consiste. O dicho de otro modo, tomar activamente el control.

 

“Nunca lloverá rosas: cuando queremos tener más rosas, debemos plantar más rosas”

(George Eliot)

 

Quizás sea una palabra de la que se ha abusado excesivamente en los últimos años en el ámbito laboral, pero no deja de ser un vocablo que incita a lo que siempre se demanda, especialmente en las profesiones más creativas: no esperar a que nos digan lo que tenemos que hacer. Sencillamente, ser un amplio conocedor de cuáles son nuestros objetivos, y en el caso del lifestyle management, llevarlos a cabo con destreza, delicadeza, excelencia y eficacia; siendo unos alumnos aventajados de nuestro cliente, previendo aquello que pasa por su mente y ni si quiera sepa que le urge, requiere o le hace feliz.

 

Por lo tanto, ¿es la proactividad una de las claves de la profesión de Personal Angel? Así es. Y no sólo eso. Puede que nos encontremos ante lo que define verdaderamente lo que significa ser un buen asistente personal. Pues nuestra tarea no se basa únicamente en la acción, si no en todo lo que previamente conlleva antes de ello: confianza, determinación, experiencia, conocimiento del cliente, un exquisito instinto y gran habilidad para prestar atención a los detalles. Tan simple y complejo al mismo tiempo… O como dijo el escritor Mario Benedetti: “me gusta la gente que vibra, que no hay que empujarla, que no hay que decirle que haga las cosas, sino que sabe lo que hay que hacer y lo hace”. Pues así somos… Y así hacemos volar a otros.   

 

Traducción: Emily Benton
Foto: Unsplash

Copyright ©by Alberta La Grup

If you wish to re-print this article or photos, that’s fine. Just include the biography at the end of the article. Thank you!

 

TLI in the magazine “MESA DE ANÁLISIS” of the andalusian TV Channel Canal Sur

🗞️ Cristina Martí, Personal Angel and Lifestyle Manager at Alberta La Grup and lecturer at The Lifestyle Institute, took part in the magazine Mesa de Análisis on the Andalusian television channel Canal Sur. We leave you with a fragment of the interview, where she talked about the role of Personal Angels. ⤵️

“In the future, The Lifestyle Concierge profession will be in high demand and not only in the luxury sector”

Interview with Irina Davydova, Lifestyle Concierge at Alberta La Grup

Editorial The Lifestyle Institute | Author: María José Núñez | May 2023

 

 

Irina Davydova, Lifestyle Concierge at Alberta La Grup, tells us what she defines as a ‘great story’, which is none other than the path that led her to work for this company and dedicate herself to a profession that fulfils her every day. Coincidences do exist and you never know where your working life will take you. Below, she tells you her story…

(Sigue en español)

 

 

-How did you land a job at Alberta La Grup? Tell us briefly about your career path up to this point.

It’s a great story. I moved to Barcelona from Malta with my husband a year ago in March. In May, after getting my documents, I decided to look for a part-time job because I had started learning Spanish and volunteering. One late afternoon I opened Linkedin and after reading the first job vacancy I knew right away they were looking for me. The job was posted 30 minutes before I saw it. It was a match from the first second and the interviews only convinced me of that.

 

I was a little worried that in a corporate career sense this position would be a downgrade for me. My last positions were managerial, I was in charge of the front office and housekeeping departments in one of the best luxury hotels in Malta at my last job. Before that I created from scratch a butler service and was a deputy director of the front office in the best luxury hotel in Moscow. But I was worried in vain, there is so much new for me in this job that I have something to learn and strive for every day.

 

 

-Describe your position. What are your responsibilities?

As a Lifestyle Concierge I ensure that our residents’ and clients’ lifestyles are as comfortable and convenient as possible, by taking care of various tasks and responsibilities on their behalf. These can be very simple tasks, such as arranging flower delivery or recommending a restaurant. Or they can be complicated and delicate – organizing an urgent safe arrival of a favorite dog from China or finding a rare piece of jewelry that is no longer in production.

 

 -What do you love most about your profession?

I really enjoy finding and choosing new places and services. I like to try things out for myself or get feedback from colleagues, residents and friends. I like the fact that I need to be up-to-date all the time, and also that behind every conversation there may be a future collaboration.

 

 

“A Lifestyle Concierge has to have resilience, curiosity and a love for people”

 

 

 

-What skills do you think a Lifestyle Concierge should have?

In addition to the standard communication skills and positive attitude, I would name resilience (the ability to cope with and recover from setbacks), curiosity (a strong desire to know or learn something) and love for people.

 

 

 Could you tell us about an anecdotal situation you have encountered as a Lifestyle Concierge?

I adore animals, have read literature on their psychology, have practiced and consider myself quite experienced in interacting with them. When our residents got their first dog, I immediately began to actively communicate with it. However, at some point the dog began to react unfriendly to me, and I started to worry about this and think about possible reasons and solutions. Together with the residents we came up with the idea to create a positive memory and went out together to play with the ball for a little while. It worked and now we are friends again!

Name me some other people who might have this happen during the working day:D

 

 

– What is a typical day like in your job?

It’s very difficult to describe day-to-day life, because the days are rarely alike.
But they always include communication with residents both in person and online, communication with various suppliers and deliverymen.
There are always tasks from residents and clients, some require a lot of work, some can be solved at the same moment. At the same time we do different preparatory work: we look for and meet potential partners, find interesting events in the city and in the world, prepare reviews. Since we still consider ourselves a new project, we are also developing operational standards and procedures.

 

 

 

“I have learned through my work to appreciate and recognise quality products and services”

 

 

-What is it about the world of luxury that interests you? When you work in this field, is everything seen differently?

I’ve been in the industry for over 10 years now, it’s hard for me to see how my perception of luxury could be any different.

The first thing that comes to mind is that I have probably learned through my work to appreciate and recognise quality products and services.
Personally I don’t strive for a luxurious lifestyle, rather the opposite, the field highlights how many people lack even the bare minimum and how much they need our help. My profession allows me to be the link between these worlds and I see great higher value in that.

 

 

“A professional, experienced and knowledgeable Lifestyle Concierge relieves their clients of a huge burden of worry”

 

 

-Do you think we are moving towards a society where having a Lifestyle Concierge is becoming more and more necessary in some areas?

I talk to a lot of different people every day and I see a growing interest in my profession. In today’s world, there are so many choices of where to go, what to do, and it’s so easy for people to get lost in it. There is a growing amount of information and it is getting harder and harder for people to filter it. A professional, experienced, knowledgeable Lifestyle Concierge relieves his clients of a huge burden of worry. I think that in the near future Lifestyle Concierge will become an in-demand profession not only in the luxury segment.

 

 

-If you could choose someone to assist, whom would you wish to serve by achieving his/her dreams?

In my years in hospitality, I have worked with the highest levels of government, celebrities, and the richest people in the world. Each time it’s a new challenge and adventure.

But if I need to choose I would choose someone with a bright, crazy, humanistic and realistic idea of improving the world.

 

 

-What is the most exciting /difficult part of your position as Lifestyle Concierge?

The hardest part was not knowing the main languages of the country. I’m learning Spanish now, but the process is much more difficult and time-consuming than I would have liked. The first few months I was demanding the impossible and I was under constant stress because of it. Over time, I realized that I could rely on my native speaker colleagues and do more tasks in English and Russian. It’s a huge blessing to have a team of professionals around always ready to help and advise.

Translation: Emily Benton
Photo: Alberta La Grup

 

Copyright ©by Alberta La Grup

If you wish to re-print this article or photos, that’s fine. Just include the biography at the end of the article. Thank you!

 

“En un futuro próximo, la profesión de Lifestyle Concierge estará muy demandada, no sólo en el sector del lujo”

Entrevista a Irina Davydova, Lifestyle Concierge de Alberta La Grup

 

Editorial The Lifestyle Institute | Autora: María José Núñez | Mayo 2023

 

 

Irina Davydova, Lifestyle Concierge en Alberta La Grup, nos cuenta lo que define como ‘gran historia’, que no es otra que el camino que le llevó a trabajar para esta empresa y dedicarse a una profesión que le llena cada día. Las casualidades existen y nunca sabes por dónde te va a llevar la vida laboral. A continuación, te lo cuenta ella misma…

 

-¿Cómo llegaste a Alberta La Grup? Cuéntanos brevemente tu trayectoria profesional hasta llegar aquí.

Es una gran historia. Me trasladé a Barcelona desde Malta con mi marido hace un año (en marzo). En mayo, después de conseguir la documentación, decidí buscar un trabajo a tiempo parcial porque había empezado a aprender español y a hacer voluntariado. Una tarde abrí LInkedin, y tras leer la primera oferta de trabajo, supe enseguida que me buscaban a mi. El trabajo se publicó 30 minutos antes de que yo lo viera, coincidía desde el primer segundo y las entrevistas no hicieron más que convencerme de ello.

            Me preocupaba un poco que, en el sentido de una carrera corporativa, este puesto supusiera un descenso para mí. En mi último trabajo estuve a cargo de los departamentos de Recepción y Limpieza de uno de los mejores hoteles de lujo de Malta. Anteriormente, creé desde cero un servicio de Mayordomo y fui Subdirectora de la Recepción del mejor hotel de lujo de Moscú. Pero me preocupaba en vano… hay tantas cosas nuevas para mí en este trabajo que, cada día, tengo algo que aprender y por lo que esforzarme.

 

-Describa su puesto. ¿Cuáles son sus funciones?

Como Lifestyle Concierge me aseguro de que el estilo de vida de nuestros residentes y clientes sea lo más cómodo y confortable posible, ocupándome de diversas tareas y responsabilidades en su nombre. Pueden ser tareas muy sencillas: como organizar el reparto de flores o recomendar un restaurante; o pueden ser complicadas y delicadas: como organizar la llegada urgente y segura de un perro desde China o encontrar una joya rara que ya no se fabrica.

 

 

-¿Qué es lo que más le entusiasma de su profesión?

Me gusta mucho encontrar y elegir nuevos lugares y servicios. Me agrada probar cosas por mí misma o recibir opiniones de colegas, residentes y amigos. Y me satisface el hecho de tener que estar siempre al día y que detrás de cada conversación pueda haber una futura colaboración.

 

 

“Un Lifestyle Concierge ha de tener resiliencia, curiosidad y amor por la gente”

 

 

 

-¿Qué cualidades cree que debe tener un Lifestyle Concierge?

Además de las habilidades comunicativas estándar y la actitud positiva, yo nombraría la resiliencia (la capacidad de afrontar y recuperarse de los contratiempos), la curiosidad (un fuerte deseo de saber o aprender algo) y el amor por la gente.

 

 

-¿Podría contarnos alguna anécdota, curiosidad o situación que le haya ocurrido?

Adoro a los animales… He leído literatura sobre su psicología, he practicado y me considero bastante experimentada en la interacción con ellos. Cuando nuestros residentes tuvieron su primer perro, enseguida empecé a comunicarme activamente con él. Sin embargo, en algún momento, el perro empezó a reaccionar de forma poco amistosa conmigo, y empecé a preocuparme por ello y a pensar en posibles razones y soluciones. Junto con los residentes, se nos ocurrió la idea de crear un recuerdo positivo y salimos juntos a jugar un rato con la pelota. Funcionó y ahora somos amigos de nuevo.

Nómbrame a otras personas a las que les pueda pasar esto durante la jornada laboral…

 

 

-¿Cómo es el día a día en tu trabajo?

Es muy difícil describir el día a día, porque los días rara vez son iguales. Pero siempre incluyen comunicación con los residentes, tanto en persona como por Internet, comunicación con diversos proveedores y repartidores. Siempre hay tareas de residentes y clientes; algunas requieren mucho trabajo, y otras, pueden resolverse en el mismo momento. Al mismo tiempo, hacemos distintos trabajos preparatorios: buscamos y nos reunimos con socios potenciales, encontramos eventos interesantes en la ciudad y en el mundo, preparamos reseñas… Como aún nos consideramos un proyecto nuevo, también estamos desarrollando normas y procedimientos operativos.

 

 

“Con mi trabajo he aprendido a apreciar y reconocer los productos y servicios de calidad”

 

 

-¿Qué tiene el mundo del lujo? Cuando se trabaja en este campo, ¿se ve todo de otra manera?

Llevo más de 10 años en el sector y me cuesta ver cómo mi percepción del lujo puede ser diferente. Lo primero que se me ocurre es que probablemente he aprendido con mi trabajo a apreciar y reconocer los productos y servicios de calidad. Personalmente, no aspiro a un estilo de vida lujoso; más bien lo contrario… este terreno pone en relieve cuántas personas carecen incluso de lo mínimo y cuánto necesitan nuestra ayuda. Mi profesión me permite ser el enlace entre estos mundos y veo en ello un gran valor añadido.

 

 

“Un Lifestyle Concierge profesional, experimentado y bien informado libera a sus clientes de una enorme carga de preocupaciones”

 

 

-¿Cree que avanzamos hacia una sociedad en la que tener un Lifestyle Concierge es cada vez más necesario en algunos ámbitos?

Hablo con mucha gente diferente cada día y veo un interés creciente por mi profesión. En el mundo actual hay tantas opciones dónde ir, qué hacer… y es muy fácil perderse. Cada vez hay más información y cada vez es más difícil filtrarla. Un Lifestyle Concierge profesional, experimentado y bien informado libera a sus clientes de una enorme carga de preocupaciones. Creo que en un futuro próximo la figura del Lifestyle Concierge se convertirá en una profesión muy demandada, no sólo en el sector del lujo.

 

-Si pudiera elegir a alguien a quien ayudar, ¿a quién desearía servir haciendo realidad sus sueños?

En mis años en la Hostelería, he trabajado con los más altos niveles del Gobierno, celebridades y las personas más ricas del mundo. Cada ocasión es un nuevo reto y una nueva aventura.

Pero si tengo que elegir, escogería a alguien con una idea brillante, loca, humanista y realista de mejorar el mundo.

 

– ¿Cuál es la parte más emocionante/difícil de tu puesto como Lifestyle Concierge?

Lo más difícil fue no conocer los principales idiomas del país. Ahora estoy aprendiendo español, pero el proceso es mucho más difícil y lleva más tiempo del que me hubiera gustado. Los primeros meses me exigía lo imposible y sufría un estrés constante por ello. Con el tiempo, me di cuenta de que podía confiar en mis compañeros nativos y hacer más tareas en inglés y ruso. Es una gran bendición contar con un equipo de profesionales siempre dispuesto a ayudar y asesorar.

Traducción: Emily Benton
Foto: Alberta La Grup

 

Copyright ©by Alberta La Grup

If you wish to re-print this article or photos, that’s fine. Just include the biography at the end of the article. Thank you!