What membership covers
- Chauffeur services. Vetted drivers with appropriate licensing and insurance, in the UK, principal European cities and Turkey. Consistency of driver where you want it.
- Close protection. Arranged exclusively through licensed operatives and licensed security companies. In the UK this means SIA-licensed close protection officers, without exception.
- Travel coordination. Flights, private aviation coordination through licensed brokers, ground transport and accommodation.
- Reservations and access. Restaurants, events, venues.
- Household and property coordination for a UK or European residence used periodically.
- Discreet handling of the practical. The recurring small tasks that make a trip work.
The security question, answered properly
Close protection in the United Kingdom is a licensed activity. It is a criminal offence to provide close protection services without an SIA licence. We arrange protective services exclusively through licensed operatives working for licensed security companies, and we will tell you which company and confirm licensing on request.
Any provider willing to supply unlicensed protection is telling you something important about how they will handle everything else. This is not an area where a discount is a saving.
Requirements vary across Europe and Turkey, and in most jurisdictions protective services are regulated in some form. We work only with providers licensed in the jurisdiction where the service is delivered. We do not provide firearms-related services in any jurisdiction.
What membership is, and is not
It is an annual arrangement with a named coordinator who knows your preferences, standing arrangements, and the details you would otherwise repeat every trip. Requests are made directly to a person rather than an app or a call centre.
Is membership worth it for you
| Profile | Honest answer |
|---|---|
| Several trips a year to the same cities | Yes. The value is in not rebuilding arrangements each time. |
| Extended stays, or a property used periodically | Yes. Standing arrangements are where this pays back. |
| Recurring protective requirement | Yes, particularly for continuity of team. |
| One trip a year | No. Book per trip, and we are happy to do that on a per-task basis. |
Discretion
A confidentiality agreement is in place before any engagement begins. We do not discuss clients, we do not use client names as references, and we do not publish testimonials. If you were referred to us by an existing client, that is because they chose to mention us, not because we asked.
Whose side we are on
Al Hisn Partners acts for the client and only the client. We are retained by you, we take instructions from you, and our fee is paid by you.
This is where the industry norm is worst. Most concierge operators are paid by the venues, hotels and suppliers they book. We are not, which is why we will tell you a restaurant is not worth it.
Common questions
Do you provide close protection directly?
No. We arrange it exclusively through licensed operatives working for licensed security companies. In the UK that means SIA-licensed close protection officers, without exception, and we will confirm the company and its licensing on request.
Do you mark up third-party costs?
No. Drivers, security, flights, accommodation and reservations are charged at cost. We also decline commissions from providers, because a concierge earning commission selects the provider that pays best rather than the one that suits you.
Is membership unlimited?
No, and anyone claiming otherwise is being imprecise. Membership covers coordination and access to a named coordinator. Third-party costs are separate and paid at cost.
Which countries do you cover?
The United Kingdom, principal European cities and Turkey. We work only with providers licensed in the jurisdiction where the service is delivered, and requirements vary between them.
I only travel once a year. Should I take a membership?
No. Book per trip instead, which we are happy to arrange on a per-task basis. Membership only makes economic sense above a certain frequency and we will tell you if you are below it.
Who pays you, and do you ever take a fee from the other side?
Our client pays us, and only our client. We do not accept a fee, commission, rebate or referral payment from a counterparty, or from any agent, provider, supplier or institution we introduce or work alongside. If one is offered, we decline it. This applies across every service we provide, without exception.