Queenstown's Touch of Spice named one of the world's best luxury travel experts

Queenstown-based Touch of Spice has been selected as one of the world’s best luxury travel experts by influential magazine Condé Nast Traveller.

Owner and CEO Jacqui Spice is the only New Zealander to be featured in the first edition of the UK magazine’s ‘little black book’, fittingly entitled ‘The Experts’.

The book is a veritable ‘who’s who’ of the world’s travel industry, featuring what it calls “exceptional individuals who transform trips into adventures, who have the personal history and expertise, the stories and the access, to set them apart from all that is humdrum.”

Ms Spice was handpicked by the Condé Nast UK team for her dedication to seeking out the ultimate private escapes in New Zealand, the Pacific and Australia.

“Jacqui and her ‘cracking team of spies’ are eternally on the prowl for hidden gems and sought-after activities. Privacy is her (Jacqui’s) forte, because that’s what she and her clients insist on,” said editor Daisy Finer.

“She can arrange heli-skiing escapades, diving in the magical Bay of Islands and personalized shopping tours in party spot Queenstown, followed by teeing off while teetering on a mountain ledge.”

“She also holds the key to a catalogue of swanky, shiny yachts and luxury villas set in vineyards.”

Touch of Spice is New Zealand’s original and longest-established luxury concierge company specialising in creating bespoke holidays for their personal and corporate clients.

Carefully hand selecting activities, accommodation and unique experiences based on individual’s requirements, Ms Spice said they were “extremely knowledgeable” about New Zealand and their personalized service, valuable connections and exclusive suppliers were unrivalled in the industry.

“As one of the pioneers in luxury concierge services in New Zealand it’s an absolute privilege to have been chosen as one of the world’s expert travel specialists by such a prestigious publication”, said Ms Spice.

“The Touch of Spice team and I are constantly searching for that distinctive villa, boat or home that’ll ‘wow’ our clients and we’re always on the lookout for those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that no-one else knows about.”

The Experts is billed as the ultimate guide to travel. It has been distributed with the April issue of Condé Nast Traveller magazine in the UK as well as clients of prestigious private banking company Coutts.

The ipad-sized guide has tips and ‘must do’s’ from around the world that it says people would normally receive from only their closest friends. The most unique experiences from across the globe are featured, from the world’s finest gastro experiences to the best places to quench a thirst, where to track down the most unusual art pieces to the quirkiest adventure guides, must-do shopping vacations and ultimate wildlife trips.

Touch of Spice has firmly established itself as the country’s leading luxury lifestyle company since its inception eight years ago in Queenstown.

“We pride ourselves on our dedicated and professional services and nothing is ever out of our reach. The word ‘No’ simply isn’t in our vocabulary and we’ve conjured up even the most unusual requests for our clients,” Ms Spice said.