Welcome to our
Bespoke Concierge Service
Who are we?
If Norman Adlam were a dancer, he’d be Ginger to Anthony Smith’s Fred. The dance partnership between Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers is said to be the most-watched in history. We say “if” because Anthony actually is a former dancer, specialising in the Latin-American style, and he has all the pizzazz that goes with it. Norman’s behind-the-scenes style complements him perfectly. Passion for personalised service, par excellence, is the common ground. Anthony has a background in hospitality and real estate, while Norman racked up years of management experience in retail, before they decided to team up. Anthony Smith and Norman Adlam are the brains and the brawn behind Ambienz Concierge, the Cape Town-based team with international reach, who can tap dance, figuratively speaking, around the most strenuous client demands. They know people. They know how to handle them, how to problem solve, how to think ahead, how to deliver on seemingly impossible requests (within outrageous timeframes) for clients who are used to getting what they want – when they want it. They are the epitome of the upmarket international concierge. What sets them apart? A desire to please, without being obsequious. Knowing when to draw the line, firmly and pleasantly. A sense of humour. Being the best problem solvers on the planet. Bending over backwards (Anthony still can) to make people happy. Ambienz Bespoke Concierge, Cape Town, is the best in the business. Retain their services and you’ll soon see why.
What we do best
Ambienz Bespoke Concierge, Cape Town offers an utterly personalised, exclusive service designed to satisfy the needs and wants of every client. From protecting VIP guests from intrusive paparazzi to advising against tourist traps in favour of arranging a smooth and leisurely exploration of Cape Town and surrounds, this team does it with aplomb! Director Anthony Smith and partner Norman Adlam will book and arrange all local and international travel and transport, recommend the finest restaurants (and get those sought-after bookings), secure the best accommodation and function venues, book wine tours and private cruises… the list goes on. In essence, what they do is take the pain out of navigating the challenges of daily life, be they for business or leisure.
How we approach the brief
When it comes to providing unwavering service of the highest order, a top-class concierge might well need to be part-genie, part-saint. So, you want to tour Cape Town with your partner, three children, an au pair and a nanny, and are all set to drive yourself from the airport to your rented villa on Clifton’s Millionaire's Row... Sound like much of a holiday? Enter Anthony Smith, who will promptly despatch a driver to take over, and convince you to maintain that modus operandi for the duration of your visit. His offer to keep your staff and offspring occupied so you can have some alone time with your loved one may have clinched the deal. It's that kind of can-do attitude that allows his company, Ambienz Bespoke Concierge, to be all things to all people in the consistently demanding luxury service industry. That, and the ability to read clients well, supreme problem-solving acumen, round-the-clock availability, discretion and a sense of humour.
Tailor Made Solutions
Anthony will arrange a one-on-one meeting with clients to learn more about their background, country of origin, interests and hobbies in order to tailor-make appropriate itineraries. They're flexible, mostly, except when something like a last-minute request to change a hair appointment threatens his carefully laid plans. The answer will be ‘no’, then. ‘You have to know when to draw the line,’ says Anthony. ‘Ask me for a table on the deck at The Grand at 11.45am on a Saturday when you're 10 minutes away. That I can do!’ What about tracking down a nontoxic face cream you discovered on your last visit, or a supplier of organic meat? Anthony will find both in a matter of minutes, in the latter instance going so far as to find out which restaurants the butcher supplies and offering to make a booking. Looking for shoes? That's a matter for a PA, and carefully deflected. Boundaries, again. His approach is simple, really. Bend over backwards to give clients a memorable experience. Be discreet. Listen. Think out of the box. Find the unfindable. Make things happen, if necessary, on the go. But to do that, it’s often about who you know. That Little Black Book. Anthony taps into an industry expert when a client wants a wine made with a particular grape or suggests a florist who works from home and can happily do ‘loose’ and ‘free’ table arrangements when a client is doggedly resisting an event organiser’s pitch of 20 formal bouquets.
What our clients get
TESTIMONIAL
One international high-end fashion client says of the Ambienz offering: ‘Very few local service providers have an understanding of the international standard, or are willing to adapt. We look for people who can follow a brief, within a budget, of course, always; who are willing to fit in with our requirements without being fussy and pretentious; who can contribute their own ideas, within the parameters of the project; and who try to make a plan. Those are the people who work for us.’
On the other hand, he’s had people wanting to fly onto Table Mountain and refusing to accept that local legislation stands in their way. Some people think there’s nothing money can’t buy. Or they’re simply pushing the boundary. The outcome is a recommendation in itself, and that’s what this business is all about.
(By Debbie Hathway, previously published in Private Edition magazine)
What our clients say
Thank you very much for the bottle of wine and for the discount cash which we received today from the reception desk. I would like to thank you for your great service and we look forward to deal with you again if we, or any of our friends, come to South Africa in the future.
Magdi Michail (London)
Anthony, I have no words to explain how grateful I am for every single little thing you did for me these past couple of months. Thank you SO much. I honestly do not know how to repay you for all your time and effort and thank you for being such an incredible sounding board and place of calm in my storm. Katlego was exceptionally happy in the end, as was every person who attended the party. Thank you for making that possible. Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. BIG hugs.
Fabrizia Degli Esposti | 20 Across | PR | Publicity | Cape Town
Guys thank you so much for making such a big difference to our trip. We had a great time thanks to your contribution. We were lucky to find you and left everything in your very capable hands. We strongly recommend anyone going to Cape Town and/or South Africa to follow Anthony and Norman’s guidance / suggestions as their contacts, sense of clients needs, attention to detail and performance are second to none. Thanks again for the fantastic support!
Vasilis Koutroulis (Greece)
Our Clients
