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My bizarre life getting billionaires what they want
My bizarre life getting billionaires what they want

Times

time2 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Times

My bizarre life getting billionaires what they want

Olivia Ferney had a problem. She was looking after a multimillionaire Miami businessman in his forties, who was sailing on a yacht around Greece in the Aegean. Yet however lovely that might sound, the man was not content. The yacht was nowhere near the isle of Mykonos, where he had just heard about a 'sick' party he 'had to attend'. 'He really, really desperately wanted to go to this party,' Ferney, a marketing director and travel specialist with Top Tier Travel, said. 'It was literally do or die. He was, like, 'I need to go right now. If you don't get this for me, screw you, screw your business. I'm going to take you guys down'.' Instead of hanging up, firing him as a client or simply saying 'no can do', Ferney soothed him and sprung into action. She knew some friends on a nearby yacht with a helipad. She chartered a smaller boat to take her client to that yacht while arranging for a helicopter to whisk him off to Mykonos. The total cost to get to a 'sick' party on time? $100,000. Welcome to the travels of the rich and highly demanding. For Ferney, who is unnaturally calm in the face of chaos, nearly no client demand is too crazy. In the past month the 24-year-old Canadian has become a social media star, posting videos that show how she deals with the most challenging rich people in the world, under the Instagram handle @travelwithlivii. The videos almost always present Ferney sitting in a car, at a hotel, or on the go, answering calls from clients. No matter how odd or outrageous their requests, she immediately assuages their concerns. While most of the calls she videos are re-enacted with the permission of her clients, some of her clients agree to re-enact the calls themselves. 'Some clients have zero problems with me sharing stuff,' Ferney said. 'They're great. For most of them, I just change their name. And they have a blast with it, so it's really, really fun.' Ferney says the richer people are, the easier they are to handle. 'A lot of clients in the multimillionaire status tend to be tougher than the billionaire clients,' she says. 'They're more particular — I always found that very, very interesting.' She speculates there must be a 'sweet point' where you 'just have to become a nice person because everybody you're hanging out with has so much money. You can't buy friends. So you just become a super nice person.' Ferney, who launched her social media account five months ago, tells me the videos 'kind of took off' and her audience now reaches 400,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. It's easy to get sucked into the account, which features demands so cartoonish they seem too satirical to be believed. Take the woman who refused to drink her margarita until she knew exactly where the limes came from. The conversation went like this: Client: 'I'm OK but I'm not great … I'm allergic to certain limes from certain countries … because of the pollination … I don't have signs like my face doesn't swell up, but I know intuitively my body is rejecting it.' Olivia: 'I will get in touch with provisions and find out where they source their limes from.' Other videos are titled: 'Dad sending daughter on a $200,000 vacation after getting engaged for a third time'; 'Client demands $10,000 upgrade to escape children … worth it? [yes]'; 'Client won't wash her hair until someone hand delivers imported spring water'. And so on. 'Honestly, those stories are 10 per cent of what I deal with,' Ferney says with a laugh. But is she not risking her business by disclosing the private demands of her clients? Are future clients, who prize their privacy, not put off her social media presence? And who the hell would agree to be recorded complaining about the size of a hotel's ice cube? Ferney says her clients 'don't find that stuff embarrassing. These are very common conversations for a lot of these people, and when you're able to have everything in the world all the time, whenever you want it, however you want it, there's never enough. 'So when they're in their circles, getting the right pink G Wagon for their two-year-old daughter's birthday, getting the right Birkin bag tomorrow in Capri, getting the jet that's the right colour. Like, those things really matter to these people. And it's my job to validate them and just make it happen.' But confusing situations can arise from Ferney's video recreations. For example, one client saw a video that sounded like a vacation she had taken — and assumed Ferney was making fun of her. 'She was like, 'What the f***? I took this exact trip, or I'm taking it in two weeks. Like, is this story based off me?' And I felt so bad because a lot of these people are taking the exact same trips. It was totally not based on her.' Raised in Dundas, Ontario, a farming town with a population of 20,000, Ferney grew up in a middle-class family that 'still can't believe the stories I tell them when I go home'. In college she majored in marketing and organisational behaviour — while running a social media marketing company on the side — until she met Troy Arnold, the Top Tier Travel founder, during a trip to Miami. One year ago, Ferney moved to Miami and joined Arnold's company, where clients pay $2,500 to $8,500 a month for concierge services. Ferney claims she works seven days a week and is home only one month of the year. She is mostly on the road, 'in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dubai and Europe … usually checking out all of the five-star hotels around the globe to make sure that everything is up to par, like a secret shopper'. She needs to make sure every space her clients enter is free from 'any weird noises. There's no weird smells. The staff are all treating people correctly'. In her time with Top Tier Travel, Ferney said she had arranged for a $200,000 yacht to sit outside a Caribbean villa in case a client wanted a change of scenery. 'It simply sat there docked outside the house for the whole trip.' She has arranged custom room services and menus for clients' dogs. And she has flown a lavender spray from London to France for a client who refused to sleep anywhere without it. • Walkies at 30,000ft: my flight on the luxury airline for dogs But she puts her foot down when it comes to one request: 'Many people want me to be a matchmaker for them, and I make my line very clear … I would never.' In a summer when every billionaire is flaunting their wealth and access across Europe, sometimes even Ferney cannot pull an elephant out of a hat. Especially when all these people want the same reservation at the same restaurant at the same time. • My day as a paparazzo chasing Jeff Bezos' wedding guests 'One per cent of the time, there is not a bribe in the world that can make that happen,' Ferney says. 'Especially when it's all billionaires competing against billionaires. At some point, a $20,000 bribe doesn't do shit.' Paula Froelich is the senior story editor and on-air contributor for NewsNation. You can follow her own travels with the rich and famous on Instagram at @pfro.

Meet Top 10 Countries With Most Beautiful Women In The World: Russia, USA, Greece But Does India Rank On The List? Number 1 Is...
Meet Top 10 Countries With Most Beautiful Women In The World: Russia, USA, Greece But Does India Rank On The List? Number 1 Is...

India.com

time4 days ago

  • India.com

Meet Top 10 Countries With Most Beautiful Women In The World: Russia, USA, Greece But Does India Rank On The List? Number 1 Is...

photoDetails english 2932082 Updated:Jul 16, 2025, 07:00 AM IST Meet Top Countries With Most Beautiful Women In The World 1 / 11 Meet Top Countries With Most Beautiful Women In The World: Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder! This stands true when people talk about measuring or analysing beauty standards based on several parameters. One such survey was conducted a few months back this year and we found it online. According to Insider Monkey report, based on a survey through Reddit, a list was compiled of countries with the most beautiful women in the world. It was solely based on Redditors opinion and is not an exhaustive one. Let's take a look at what the Reddit users have voted for: Colombia 2 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 345 Colombia is a country primarily located in South America with insular regions in North America. Columbian beauties are recognised world over. Actresses such as Sofia Vergara and Catalina Sandino Moreno among others are appreciated for their impressive personalities. Poland 3 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 324 Poland is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia[f] to the northeast, Belarus and Ukraine to the east, Slovakia and the Czech Republic to the south, and Germany to the west. Polish women are attractive and appreciated for their 'high cheekbones' and 'fuller lips', says the survey. Greece 4 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 311 Greece is a country in southeastern Europe with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. It is often called the cradle of Western civilization. Reddit users considerered its female population more beautiful than many other countries. Russia 5 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 308 Russia is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the largest country in the world, and extends across eleven time zones, sharing land borders with fourteen countries. With over 140 million people, Russia is the most populous country in Europe and the ninth-most populous in the world. Czech Republic 6 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 301 The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. According to Reddit users, women in the country are considered strikingly beautiful for their diverse looks. Sweden 7 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 296 Sweden is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes, along with vast boreal forests and glaciated mountains. Iceland 8 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 284 Iceland, a Nordic island nation, is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields. USA 9 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 281 The United States of America (USA) or America, is primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. US is home to diverse population and hence Reddir users found 'many beautiful women' coming in from this country. Brazil 10 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 276 Brazil is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the seventh-largest by population, with over 212 million people. Japan 11 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 269 Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asian mainland. The Japanese women are considered to be beautiful and the country is ranked at 10th spot in this list.

5 of the best restaurants in Dubai this week: July 14 to 18
5 of the best restaurants in Dubai this week: July 14 to 18

What's On

time6 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • What's On

5 of the best restaurants in Dubai this week: July 14 to 18

Dinner doesn't need to wait for the weekend. From new summer menus and pop-ups to business lunches and chef collabs, these Dubai restaurants are giving you solid reasons to skip the cooking and make a plan. Here are 5 of the best restaurants in Dubai to check out this week. GAIA Images: Supplied For a taste of a Mediterranean summer in the city, GAIA brings coastal charm to DIFC with a limited-time seasonal menu. Think vibrant dishes like artichoke and zucchini pasta, grilled chicken with lemon confit, and a bright tomato salad, paired with fresh, herbaceous cocktails and curated wines by the glass. It's light, elegant, and rooted in Aegean flavours – perfect for slow lunches or early evening plans. Location: GAIA, Podium Level, Gate Village 4, DIFC Times: Seasonal menu available throughout July & August, daily, 12pm to 6:30pm Contact: (0)4 241 4242 | @gaia__dubai W Dubai, The Palm Images: Supplied W Dubai, The Palm is bringing together its top dining destinations for Taste of W , a curated culinary journey running all summer. You can explore set menus across four standout venues: the Michelin Guide-recognised Akira Back, Mediterranean haven Olivino, laid-back WET Deck, and rooftop sunset favourite SoBe. From rooftop cocktails and sushi to poolside bites and comfort food, it's an all-access pass to bold flavour and summer vibes. Location: W Dubai – The Palm Times: Available daily throughout July, August & September Cost: Dhs220 per person Contact: (0)4 245 5800 | @wdubaipalm The Guild Images: Supplied Midweek dinners just got an upgrade. Welly Wednesday at The Guild is all about craft, comfort, and good music. Every Wednesday night, you can dig into the restaurant's signature Beef Wellington – a refined take on the classic, wrapped in golden pastry with mushroom duxelles, spinach pancake, and finished with bordelaise sauce. It's served with wood-fired carrots, broccoli, and mash, all set to a backdrop of live music and The Guild's ambient interiors. Location: The Guild, DIFC Times: Available every Wednesday from 6pm onwards Cost: Dhs250 per person Contact: (0)4 564 0401 | @theguilddubai The Artisan Image: Supplied For an elegant midday break, The Artisan has introduced a new Italian Business Lunch served weekdays in the heart of DIFC. Priced at Dhs135 for three courses, the menu features refined dishes like salmon carpaccio with green apple, pink pepper and mascarpone, or fregola pasta with artichokes and prawns. It's a well-executed balance of flavour, style, and simplicity – ideal for a workday reset or casual client lunch. Location: The Artisan, Waldorf Astoria DIFC Times: Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm Cost: Dhs135 per person Contact: (0)4 338 8133 | @theartisandubai AKABEKO Image: Supplied Dubai's first premium Yakiniku spot, AKABEKO, introduces Wagyu & Wine Wednesdays – a seven-course dining experience built around top-grade wagyu and off-menu wine pairings. Expect bold flavours and refined plates like wagyu carpaccio, curry arancini, kushiyaki skewers, seasonal steak cuts, and Hōjicha desserts – all crafted by Head Chef Yosuke Matsuoka with the founders' personal touch. Wines change monthly to keep the pairings fresh. Location: KABEKO, Voco Dubai The Palm, G01, West Beach, Palm Jumeirah Times: Available every Wednesday from 6pm onwards Cost: Dhs450 per person (includes wine pairing) Contact: (0)50 561 8288 | @akabeko_dubai

IHG Hotels & Resorts strengthens presence in Turkish leisure market with second Holiday Inn Resort signing
IHG Hotels & Resorts strengthens presence in Turkish leisure market with second Holiday Inn Resort signing

Tourism Breaking News

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • Tourism Breaking News

IHG Hotels & Resorts strengthens presence in Turkish leisure market with second Holiday Inn Resort signing

Post Views: 50 IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) announced the signing of Holiday Inn Resort Bodrum West Beach, in partnership with Uslu Turizm Insaat Tasimacilik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. The signing follows the success of IHG's first Holiday Inn Resort property, Holiday Inn Resort Bodrum, and adds to a growing portfolio of 33 open hotels in Turkiye and a further 17 in development. Expected to open in mid-2026, the 460-room resort will strengthen IHG's position within the Turkish leisure segment, by providing a new offering with resort-style amenities in Bodrum. Underscoring the brands commitment to family-friendly hospitality, the hotel will offer guests a large resort-style pool, sandy beach, spa, bar, conference area and more, all while enjoying the stunning views of the Aegean Sea. Located in one of the world's most renowned tourist destinations, Holiday Inn Resort Bodrum West Beach will place guests in close proximity to a wealth of popular attractions, beaches, and the area's vibrant nightlife. Ideally situated near Turgutreis Marina along the Aegean coast of Bodrum, guests will also have access to yachting and leisure boating opportunities, with and easily travel to nearby Greek Islands, including Kos, making it the perfect base for exploration and relaxation. As one of the most recognised brands in the world, Holiday Inn champions meaningful connections for all, offering a warm, welcome and consistent experience, with each hotel delivering genuine hospitality with personal service. (Mrs) Willemijn Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: 'As one of the most sought-after destinations in Bodrum, Turgutreis benefits from both international and local leisure travellers. The strategic location of Holiday Inn Resort Bodrum West Beach therefore allows us to capitalise on growth opportunities by introducing the right brands in the locations that travellers desire. With the growing demand for our essential brands in Türkiye, we are thrilled to expand our presence by introducing another Holiday Inn brand family to the market. We are particularly excited to partner with Uslu Turizm Insaat Tasimacilik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., who have entrusted us with their vision, leveraging our market-leading brand, local expertise, and global reach to deliver exceptional value and performance for their first property in Bodrum.' As one of the most recognized hotel brands in the world, Holiday Inn has deep roots in family and business travel stemming from the vision of our founder, Kemmons Wilson, to provide a quality, consistent and authentic travel experience for all. Founded to enable 'People Trips,' Holiday Inn was created to be a place where all people could come together, feel welcomed and at ease. Being one of the most loved brands in the world means never standing still – we are constantly evolving Holiday Inn to keep up with the needs of today's travellers. With a legacy spanning decade, today, Holiday Inn honours its iconic heritage with modernised iterations poised to define the next decade of travel and beyond. Ersin Uslu, Owner, Uslu Turizm Insaat Tasimacilik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. added: 'We are thrilled to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to bring this stunning new resort to life in Türkiye. IHG's impressive track record and deep understanding of the Turkish market make them the perfect partner for our hotel. Their expertise in navigating the unique dynamics of the region, including the ability to offer an all-inclusive experience during high season and room-only options during low season, gives us great confidence in their capacity to drive strong returns.' We are confident that Holiday Inn Resort Bodrum West Beach will offer a unique and compelling hospitality experience, contributing significantly to the city's thriving tourism sector. The signing reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional quality and enhancing the region's appeal to both domestic and international travellers.' IHG Hotels & Resorts has 33* open hotels in Türkiye, across five brands – Six Senses, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn. Holiday Inn Resort Bodrum West Beach will become the second Holiday Inn Resort in Bodrum, joining 20* pipeline and open properties. *Numbers as at 31 March 2025 unless otherwise stated

Tiny Greek island dubbed 'a smaller Mykonos' named as best in the world
Tiny Greek island dubbed 'a smaller Mykonos' named as best in the world

Daily Mirror

time6 days ago

  • Daily Mirror

Tiny Greek island dubbed 'a smaller Mykonos' named as best in the world

A charming Greek island just a stone's throw from the insatiably popular Santorini and Mykonos has stunning beaches, a rich history, and delicious seafood - but hardly any tourists Escape the bustling crowds of tourists on this idyllic Greek island recently voted the best in the entire world. Last year, a whopping 40 million international visitors flocked to Greece, marking an impressive 12.8 per cent spike compared to 2023. The sheer influx resulted in hotspots such as Santorini and Mykonos becoming so insufferably busy - swathes of visitors have vowed to never return. However, if you're desperate for golden sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, mouth-watering food and a ubiquitous history - you have to check out Páros. This tiny island, located in the Aegean Sea, boasts 120km of unspoilt coastline - complete with quaint cliff-top villages, rugged mountains, and a vibrant nightlife. If you're not satisfied with soaking up the rays on sugar-like beaches, head over to Panagia Ekatontapiliani, aka the Holy Shrine of the Virgin Mary. This Byzantine church complex is a must-see for history buffs, and is one of the best-preserved Paleo-Christian monuments in Greece. According to legend, the original church was either constructed by Saint Helene herself or Saint Constantine, the first Emperor of Constantinople, after the oblation of his mother. Staying in the charming villages of Naoussa, Lefkes, and Marpissa, is a great way to explore the island's whitewashed houses with blue windows and flowered yards. It's as Instagram-worthy as the domed buildings in Santorini, but comes without coachloads of selfie-stick-waving tourists. And if you're feeling extra boujee, explore Páros' wildlife-rich waters with a private boat trip or yacht charter. The island is also a great place for scuba divers, home to barracuda, groupers, and moray eels, as well as sea turtles and even dolphins and seals. With all of this in mind, it's no surprise that the island was voted the world's best in Travel and Leisure's most recent survey. "This Aegean isle has made the European islands list every year since we added the category to our 'World's Best Awards' survey," the publication said. "This year, it takes the top spot for the first time since 2020—and readers named Páros not only their favourite island in Europe, but also the best in the world. Travellers hailed the island's fresh seafood, shopping options, natural beauty and 'warm hospitality' from locals. "There's more to explore than I expected," said one survey respondent. "[There are] surprises around every corner." While there is an airport in Páros, it only operates as a domestic hub connecting the island to the mainland. This means Brits will have to first fly to Athens, and then hop on another flight to Páros - which altogether takes around six hours and 15 minutes. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab return indirect flights for around £264 in August - if you're travelling from London. Flying from northern airports such as Manchester or Edinburgh increases the cost to £358 and £336 respectively. There is a wide range of accommodation types on Páros, from no-frill hotels to luxury resorts. For example, a week's stay (Monday, August 4-11) at the Surfing Beach Huts will only set you back £585. This is based on two adults sharing two single beds in a wooden cabin. If you're looking for something a bit more upmarket, you have to check out Paros Agnanti Resort & Spa. This five-star hotel is situated just 100 metres from the beach, and boasts a stunning spa, beautiful sea views, and excellent leisure facilities. Staying here on the exact same nights, in a Superior room which includes breakfast, will cost £2,358.

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