Concierge services have had to move fast over the past year-plus, hustling to meet client demands that have continued to evolve throughout the waves of the pandemic. From addressing (and enhancing) work-life balance to safely entertaining friends and family again, such services have had their work cut out for them. We asked two leaders in the concierge space for an inside look at the requests they’re seeing most of these days, from the most unsurprising shifts to the unprecedented ones.

Katie Apicella, Founder, NineNine Bespoke

Examples of services that we are now seeing for the longer term include in-house services with industry experts include: 

• Wellness & Holistic Experts: group and individual energy healing as well as spiritual and metaphysical advisors
• On-site entertainment (live concerts, strategic team-building games, and immersive entertainment.)
• Personal tour and adventure guides 
• Nutrition and culinary (private chefs and dinners)
• Documentary photographers/videographers

Desi Valentine founder of DV Elemental Healing & Wellness Practice provides transformational energy healing and intuitive business coaching to companies, executives, and individuals. (Courtesy NineNineBespoke)

The most notable change is the client’s willingness to surrender and trust the process. Something they are not always comfortable with. The play factor is back and so is an investment in Experience. Maybe with so many unknowns this past year and a half we’re learning to focus more on trusting the journey and enjoying every moment of it. While our course keeps changing, all we can do is focus on the present and make sure we are making each moment count and having a blast while we’re at it!

Benjamin Vaschetti, Founder, Maison Benjamin

Maison Benjamin

Top five requested services from Maison Benjamin this summer have been:

• Intimate private dinners and small-scale catering (fewer than 30 people), especially in the Hamptons. People have been eager to entertain outdoors this summer and create memories with friends and family again.
• Restaurant recommendations and reservations throughout the US and Europe.
• Personal shopping and running errands in the Hamptons and Miami.
• Sourcing outdoor summer furniture.
• Booking European travel, especially for Greece, which has been the most popular destination among our clients this summer!