Thursday, September 1, 2011

QUINTESSENTIALLY'S INAUGURAL ASIA PACIFIC AWARDS IN HONG KONG ON 1 NOVEMBER

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
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FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY, QUINTESSENTIALLY WILL PRESENT ITS INAUGURAL AWARDS FOR ASIA PACIFIC FOR THE BEST PURVEYORS OF GOODS AND SERVICES, FROM BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER TO BEST PRIVATE JET TO RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR. THERE WILL BE 23 AWARDS THOUGH I ASSUME ALL THE INDIVIDUAL WINNERS WILL BE FROM HONG KONG AND NO MALAYSIAN IS IN THE RUNNING.

FOR THE TERMINALLY UNINFORMED OR THOSE FROM ANOTHER PLANET OR THOSE FROM THE LOWER CLASSES (MIND YOU, MY MAIDS ALL HAVE HEARD OF QUINTESSENTIALLY) QUINTESSENTIALLY IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL BUTLER/VALET/CONCIERGE/SUPERMAID SERVICE.

However rich you are, you may not own New York Metropolitan Opera or London's West End or Singapore's new Pangaea club. You may own half of Kuala Lumpur but your name may, alas and alack, mean nothing to the operator of Hutong restaurant in Hong Kong. Maybe you plan to invade Paris but unsure if Karl Lagerfeld will acquiesce to measuring your body for your ball gown? You want a table at Alain Ducasse restaurant at the last minute? A seat at a fashion show? Or your private jet may develop engine trouble and your wife/lover/mistress/call boy or children are waiting for you back home as in 6,000 miles away.

Life as we know are full of such crisis and in times like this, Quintessentially comes to the rescue. They can more or less fix what you want and give you what your grasping heart desires as long as it involves contacts and cash.

This service is 24/7 or maybe 25/8 as some word wizards like to say.

According to urban legend, a Quintessentially member asked to have dinner with Queen Elizabeth II of England and would donate a cheque to her charity. He received this reply; "We are sorry Her Majesty is unable to have dinner with you in Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle or in your private mansion but how about the next best thing---the future Queen of England, Camilla?"!

Even I occasionally have to settle for the Next Best Thing!

Anyway all of high society is agog at this news so watch this space when the awards are doled out on 1 November.

Of course to give such awards, you need top-notch, top drawer judges so no one can accuse Quintessentially of fraud, bribe and corruption though the winner can of course bribe all 12 judges!

CELEBRITY JUDGES FOR THE INAUGURAL QUINTESSENTIALLY AWARDS ASIA PACIFIC;

The list of the esteemed judges appointed for the inaugural Quintessentially Awards Asia Pacific consist of some of Hong Kong’s leading purveyors and connoisseurs of luxury and they are;

Mr Aaron Fischer, Regional Head of Consumer Research at CLSA.
Mr Aaron Fischer, Head of Consumer Research at CLSA Aaron leads the Consumer Team at CLSA, focusing on independent, thematic research and economic analysis. His team recently published an extensive report on Asian luxury goods demand called "Dipped in gold".

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Mrs Anne Lim-Chaplain, Publisher and Managing Director of Prestige Hong Kong.
Anne is one of Asia’s most respected publishers who has played a managing role in a wide variety of magazines, including Prestige Hong Kong which targets the city’s influential and affluent taste-makers.

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Mr Daniel Jeffreys, Founder of Deluxewords.
Daniel is the founder of deluxewords, an international publishing and consultancy company based in Hong Kong. A highly qualified journalist, he has held senior positions at the BBC, London Daily Mail, South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Tatler. He is the author of five published books.

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Ms Emma Sherrard Matthew, Chief Executive Officer, Quintessentially.
Emma is one of the region’s most dynamic business women. She has a strong passion in luxury lifestyle industries, and is the driving force behind the 62 Quintessentially offices worldwide.

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Mr Foong Seong Khong, Managing Director of Blu Inc Media (HK) Ltd.
Mr Foong heads up Blu Inc Media (HK) Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of SPH Magazines, is a leading publisher of high-end leisure and industry magazines, including Asia-Pacific Boating, JET Asia-Pacific, AsiaSpa, Action Asia and LP-Luxury Properties.

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Mr Francis Cheng, CEO of Occasions PR and Marketing.
Gatekeeper to some of the city’s most exclusive events, Francis is an expert in luxury PR and marketing.

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Mr Gary Chung, Celebrity Make-up Director.
Working with Hong Kong’s stars and starlets has given Gary an eye for the latest lifestyle trends and insider knowledge of the industry.

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Mr Grant Thatcher, Publishing Editor of LUXE City Guides.
Your savvy guide to some of the world’s coolest destinations, Grant published the LUXE City Guides and is a regional luxury travel expert.

Ms Janet Ma, Former Super Model.
One of the most widely-recognised faces both locally and internationally, Janet Ma has been voted one of the most beautiful women in Hong Kong.

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Ms Marisa Zeman, Owner and Designer of Nude is Rude.
Daughter of Allan Zeman, Marisa is the creative director and founder of resort wear line Nude is Rude, where her debut boutique
opened earlier this year in Lan Kwai Fong.

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Mr Paul Husband, Founder and Managing Director of Husband Retail Consulting
An acknowledged visionary in the retail industry, Paul's expertise and foresight in relation to global retail trends is highly sought around the world.

Mr Peter Wong, Chief Editor of Hong Kong Economic Journal - LifeStyle Journal
The man with his finger on the city’s pulse who established the City Magazine more a decade ago, Peter Wong’s enviable knowledge of Hong Kong lifestyle and culture has made him one of the city’s most respected media figures.

The Quintessentially Awards Asia Pacific celebrates the achievement of the finest names in the luxury lifestyle industry, nominated by the above panel of experts and voted by Quintessentially Members. Recognising luxury lifestyle brands which have gone the extra mile to make a strong impression and stand out, the Awards reflects the taste of Quintessentially Members across Asia. An Award Presentation Cocktail Party will be held on Tuesday 1st November 2011 at Watermark, Central.

Emma Sherrard Matthew, CEO of Quintessentially, says: “Asian countries are at the forefront of global consciousness and Quintessentially Awards Asia Pacific will, for the first time, celebrate the regional achievements and successes of some of the world’s most iconic luxury lifestyle brands.”

Quintessentially members from across the region, alongside some of Asia’s most prominent business leaders, VIPs and celebrities,will be attending the ceremony and awards presentation.

Award categories for Quintessentially Awards Asia Pacific include:
· Photographer of the year
· Interior designer of the year
· Architect of the year
· Best emerging musician/rock band of the year
· Best emerging fashion designer of the year
· Chef of the year
· Philanthropist of the year
· Stylist of the year
· Car of the year
· Watch brand of the year
· Private jet of the year
· Hotel of the year
· Spa of the year
· Fine jeweller of the year
· Best new bar/lounge of the year
· Nightclub of the year
· Private members' club of the year
· Wine of the year
· Corporate social responsibility company of the year
· Quintessentially perfume house of the year
· Art Gallery of the year
· Art exhibition of the year
· Award for excellence

Quintessentially is all about...

Offering 24/7 lifestyle assistance in 62 cities around the world, Quintessentially is the world’s leading luxury lifestyle group and concierge service. With a truly global network, Quintessentially creates unique experiences and provides personalised solutions to
practical problems anytime, anywhere. With over 30 luxury sister businesses covering every luxury arena including travel, real estate, wine, music, art, food, hotels, clubs, spas, restaurants and tickets, members can access by-invitation-only events, tables at the world’s best restaurants, savings at the coolest boutiques as well as enjoy comprehensive travel arrangements and bookings.

Quintessentially offers its members nothing but the very best and helps them save time and money.

Quintessentially was founded in the United Kingdom in 2000 and more than 10 years later, continues to define the meaning of luxury boasting an unrivalled portfolio of concierge service and luxury lifestyle businesses.
For more information on how to become a Quintessentially Member, please visit:
www.quintessentially.com, contact +852 2540 8595 or membershiphk@quintessentially.com.
Follow Quintessentially on Facebook and Twitter: www.facebook.com/quintessentiallyhk and www.twitter.com/q_hk.

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