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EstherChew
sitsdownwithTVhost andmodel turnedentrepreneur, StephanieChai, to
find outmore onwhatThe LuxeNomad is all about.
F
rom
television show
host to model and now
entrepreneur, Stephanie
Chai has graced over 50 ad
campaigns and countless
covers as a model. This
Italian-Chinese beauty,
who grew up in New Zealand, started
modelling at the young age of 18 and it
was a career that took her to different
parts of Asia. She soon got a chance to
act on KL Lights, a dramedy as well as
feature roles in local movies, but her most
memorable role to date was her recent
cameo in a Hollywood film, Fair Game in
which she acted opposite Naomi Watts. In
2012, Stephanie launched the successful
website, TheLuxeNomad.com, which
works with more than 400 luxury hotels
and resorts at providing special rates for
limited periods to its pool of members.
What inspired you to begin this business
venture?
I think starting a business is a combination
of merging a great idea with something
you’re passionate about. I’ve always loved
to travel and since I was in university,
I have rarely stayed in one country for
more than two months thanks to juggling
betweenmodelling and studying. A friend
sent me a link of a similar site in the
States and I thought – why not do that for
Asia-Pacific? So I did!
PERSONALITY
Beauty in Business
54 | FireFlyz
South East Asia but am definitely looking
at expanding soon.
What do you look for in a hotel before
featuring it in Luxe Nomad? What does it
need to “make the cut”?
We check it out but we also look at online
reviews. If a luxury place has a lot of bad
reviews then that is a red flag. Also design
plays a part – is it modern, is it cool? Luxe
and tacky don’t go together.
What are the processes that takes place
when your team sets out to curate a list
of recommended luxurious hotels and
resorts?
We research online and our sales team
takes a trip out to review the property
in person. That’s the best way for us to
ensure that our customers will get the best
experience they deserve.
You must travel a lot. Where are some of
your favouritedestinations?
(Laughs)
Ironically, I’m just between
offices mostly, as I’m managing a team
and they get to go and vet the properties.
But I don’t mind because I have too much
work to do anyways!
Did you always want to start a business
or was this something that happened by
chance?
I have had interviews with magazines
since I was 18 years old and starting a
business was something I always said I
would do. But finding that perfect idea
that feels right; that doesn’t come easy!
Why the nameThe Luxe Nomad? What is
itmeant to stand for?
One of my best friends came up with it
and I suppose you have the word ‘Luxe’
that is balanced by ‘Nomad’. A Nomad is
someone who is always traveling, moving
from place to place; which is relevant for
more and more of us as flying becomes
more affordable. The Luxe – we only
feature 4 and 5 star properties but we do
have some amazing flash sales you can’t
find elsewhere –which gives people a taste
of ‘affordable luxury’.
What isTheLuxeNomad all about?
We are Asia-Pacific’s leading luxury hotel
and villa portal which also features weekly
flash sales of up to 70%off. We’re curated
– so you don’t spend hours looking for the
right place or turn up in a foreign country
wondering why the villa doesn’t look
anything like it does in the photos. Our
target customers are middle income to
upper middle income consumers in APAC.
We currently only feature destinations in