Collecting art will inevitably entail some travel time here and there. And to make sure you get the whole experience while you're away, we have Misty Shores as our Concierge Expert. Want to eat at the hottest, under the radar restaurant in New York? She's got you covered.
WHITEWALL: How did you become involved with the Setai and their concierge services?
MISTY SHORES: My career began as a concierge at a five star New York property. When I left there I went to work for a luxury destination guide, where I helped build their travel service. Coming to the Setai gave me a chance to combine the two and build something unique and really special.
WW: What is your role at the Setai?
MS: I am responsible for building and overseeing the concierge/travel desk and also for setting up the member events for the Setai Club. It is really fantastic as it keeps me on my toes, continually looking for new things that would be of interest to our guests and members.
WHITEWALL: The Setai is world- renowned for their five-star service. What makes the concierge service at The Setai special? What sets you part from other hotels?
MISTY SHORES: The primary difference between the Setai concierge and other hotels is that we are truly an international desk. Most hotels focus primarily on the city they are based in but we have a worldwide travel desk ensuring that not only are you taken care of while you are in New York but also anywhere you travel globally. We are very fortunate in that we have a private club attached (The Setai Club) which gives us a chance to really get to know our members and their preferences in turn helping us to provide highly personalized service.
WW: How has the role of the concierge changed and evolved over these last few years?
MS: The role of concierge has really started to evolve. A little over five years ago it was a word that you would only hear or associate with a hotel, but now it’s being used for everything from building doormen to telephone banks that have telemarketers randomly filling requests. Concierges in cities like New York know the importance of being tuned into everything new, especially those places that are under the radar, and haven’t hit a mass market yet. We understand that travelers today are very sophisticated and that it’s all about the experience.
WW: Has the economy had an impact on the services offered?
MS: In some ways of course, the economy has impacted services. The most noticeable change is how people plan their trips. Meaning that people use to plan months before a vacation and now everyone is going at the last minute. It is much more spontaneous. Also people are still traveling to amazing destinations but they are being more creative about how they do it. I had a large group that would have normally been on a huge, state of the art, yacht in St Tropez, but this year they opted for a Turkish gullet through the Croatian Islands and Montenegro. People are more adventurous and will try new things in this economy where as before they had to be in a certain area at a particular time of year because that’s where everyone was “supposed” to be. In that sense it’s actually quite refreshing.
Misty Marie Shores is the Director of Concierge and Travel Services for the Setai New York and The Setai Club, specializing in exclusive destinations and creating unique travel experiences worldwide. She is also responsible for establishing and cultivating relationships with art, fashion and design houses to create exclusive events for The Setai Club brand. Misty has spent the last several years contributing to an exclusive luxury fashion/destination guide and was instrumental in the launch of their Bespoke Travel Service and North American Offices. Misty currently resides in New York City.
