For most Australians, the ‘luxury lifestyle’ sector may seem like an odd career choice. But with news this week listing the cities in the world with the most millionaires, multi-millionaires and billionaires, it’s also a growth sector.
The city with the most millionaires in the world is Tokyo with 461,000. London has the most multi-millionaires with 4,224 and New York has the most billionaires with 70. The only Australian city to feature on the list is Sydney which comes in 17th with the number of millionaires with 104,000.
The most striking feature of the three lists is that Asian cities are the largest group within each of the three lists. In addition to Tokyo, the rich cities of Asia include Osaka, Hong Kong, Seoul, Mumbai, Singapore, Osaka, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Those who live the luxury lifestyle have multiple homes, stay in five star plus hotels, fly first class – generally in their own jet – and own a superyacht and helicopter or two. They demand and receive absolute discretion and attention to detail in equal measure.
Just as the number of the world’s rich grow so does the number of people working or delivering services for them. It is an employment sector that is growing.
And now there is the first official textbook on butlering and lifestyle management produced in conjunction with The Savoy Hotel, London. It’s a guide for hospitality students looking for a career in luxury hospitality, private service and the superyacht industry, as well as others already working in the sector.
“The global demand for butlers and lifestyle managers has grown rapidly in recent years,” says Neil Richmond who is a co-author of the textbook and founder of Morpho Luxury Asset Management. Other contributors to the book are Professor David Foskett, Head of the School of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of West London and Sean Davoren who is Head Butler at The Savoy.
Although there are several courses around the world in butler training and luxury lifestyle management, there is no single official textbook.
“Our book provides detailed, practical information from authoritative and internationally recognised sources,” says Professor Foskett.
The book will be distributed to luxury hospitality training institutions worldwide. Proceeds from the book will support The Prince's Trust, the charity which gives practical and financial support to develop key workplace skills for young people, and Hospitality Action, which was founded in 1837 and helps those in the hospitality industry who find themselves facing a crisis.