When Coldplay performed in Thailand earlier this year, Indian fans constituted the second-highest number of attendees in the audience, cementing our position right after Thai fans. But what I learned next baffled me even more. Although the tickets were sold out in minutes, many High Networking Indians (HNIs) secured their passes by simply sending a text on a WhatsApp group chat, through a personal concierge service that they had access to. This exclusive service was offered by Indulge Global Concierge, a luxury lifestyle brand dedicated to delivering personalised luxury experiences tailored to high-profile individuals. Whether you want VIP access at Wimbledon or F1, that last limited-edition Hermès bag, or a ticket to the world’s largest music festival (even if it’s sold out), put in a request to Indulge Global and it will be fulfilled at a moment’s notice. Launched in 2022 by Karan Bhangay and Advita Bihani, Indulge Global caters to over 1,000 individuals in 180 countries today, with its headquarters in Goa.
The Inception
After working at a luxury lifestyle magazine, Bhangay spent five years curating luxury exhibitions, connecting luxury brands with HNIs in smaller cities beyond Mumbai and New Delhi. When COVID-19 hit, in-person events came to a standstill, but Bhangay adapted by helping his clients with personal shopping for watches, cars, and more. “While this was happening organically, we thought why not turn this into a brand?” he shares. “So we asked a small group of our clients if they’d want to try a personal concierge that offers global services. That’s how Indulge Global initially started.”
Having quit her job, Bihani connected with Bhangay over LinkedIn after he posted about Indulge Global. Their aligned interests and goals led to the launch of the brand post-COVID. Bhangay noticed many HNIs wanting to live life king-size after the pandemic. “They found more value in experiencing life and splurging their hard-earned incomes on exclusive experiences and products. We started getting queries from people inquiring about tickets to a cricket match, or sourcing a Birkin or a Rolex watch.”
True Luxury
To become an Indulge Global member, drop a WhatsApp message via the company’s website or social platforms, and the team will promptly reach out. Membership options include a one-year trial of r1 lakh with a five per cent service charge per request or an annual membership plan costing r4 lakh. Once you’re a member, a dedicated team of six to seven well-travelled individuals, avail- able around the clock, is assigned to you. You can make unlimited requests via a dedicated WhatsApp group, from getting a table at Bastian, Mumbai to sending a birthday cake to your mom in Canada.
“When enrolling, members answer a set of questions that help define their preferences, such as seating choices, hotel preferences, and culinary tastes. This personalised approach allows the team to serve you better over time, growing more attuned to your unique needs and preferences,” Bhangay shares while also clarifying that Indulge Global is not your personal assistant; its service goes beyond that. “We provide 24/7 support for everything. Through WhatsApp groups, you can make requests while travelling or during meetings, leaving the execution to the Indulge team.”
Nothing Is Impossible
The world is your oyster with Indulge Global. It offers a wide range of hyper-personalised services, including airport protocols, off-beat travel itineraries, chauffeur services, fine dining restaurant reservations, gifting options, luxury products, global sporting events, music events, special auctions, and unique requests like blocking a palace or arranging a chef. Some of the recent events they’ve partnered with include Wimbledon, Tomorrowland and Paris Olympics, among others.
Your demand could be as quirky as satisfying your caffeine cravings from a particular shack in Bengaluru while you’re in Delhi or something as exclusive as gifting your wife a certain bracelet of which just one piece is left in the world. Yes, the team has actually pulled this off. And then they’ve gone above and beyond to cater to medical emergencies as well. “A family needed an air ambulance to Thailand as an individual’s father fell ill. When they reached out to their network, the timeline given to them was 48 hours but when they got in touch with us, we were able to arrange the transfer overnight,” Bihani proudly says.
Next Level Indulgence
Fulfilling the requests of 1000 clients is just the beginning for team Indulge Global. “We are at the capacity to be able to manage concierge for 10,000 global individuals,” Bhangay shares. While they are coming up with an app for their services, they envision becoming the number one global concierge service provider. “We would like to crack that by the end of this year because there is nothing we are not able to do whether it’s space travel, arranging a cruise or attending Wimbledon,” he signs off. As for me, I’m just waiting for the day I can text them for a spontaneous weekend getaway on a private island.
Read the full story in ELLE India’s new issue, or download your digital copy via Magzter.
