Coronavirus is spreading quickly around the world but while most people are staying indoors and avoiding public events, the super rich are going to more extreme measures than ever to avoid catching the virus.
The Ten Lifestyle Group, a leading concierge service with offices globally, has just released new data that suggests the UK’s wealthiest 1% are taking to the skies on private jets – avoiding commercial airlines while jetting off to far-flung destinations such as the Antarctic and the Galapagos Islands.
The company told Sky News that it has been chartering services for affluent clients who want to limit their exposure to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“Private jets are certainly in high demand at the moment. It’s not been a huge thing, but we have certainly seen an increase,” Alex Cheatle, the chief executive The Ten Lifestyle Group, told Sky News this week.
According to Sky News, Ten Lifestyle’s clientele are among the some of the country’s richest and often bank with the likes of Coutts or HSBC Jade – accounts where customers need millions of pounds in assets to be eligible.
Research from Ten Lifestyle also reveals that fine dining restaurant bookings have risen sharply among the country’s elite in recent weeks.
And the company’s clients are opting to dine at super exclusive eateries, such as the three Michelin-starred restaurant Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester hotel in London’s upmarket neighbourhood of Mayfair, where there’s an unusually large amount of space between tables.
Mr Cheatle explained: “We are booking lots of private dining rooms and chef’s tables for our private members.
“That’s partly made easier because fewer corporates that normally book those private dining rooms are eating out.
“We haven’t seen a decline in bookings but more members are calling us for advice. They’re just more cautious about where they’re going.”
