Barclays wealth and investment management division today launches a new concept in client experience. Called “Little Book of Wonders”, it is an online portal through which high net worth (HNW) clients can browse ideas for exceptional events and experiences across 16 lifestyle sections.

The portal also contains proprietary editorial from a team of experienced lifestyle writers, headed up by editors Gill Morgan and James Collard, and leading contributing editors including Hannah Betts and Simon de Burton.
Barclays has developed relationships with a wide range of luxury brands who share the emphasis placed both by ourselves and by our clients on relationships, privacy, quality and integrity. The events and “money can’t buy” experiences that we have created with our partners are unique to Barclays clients. Forthcoming highlights include an evening at Sir Terence Conran’s apartment to hear about commissioning a dream home, a chance to play cricket with England legend Freddie Flintoff, and an Easter egg masterclass for children being held at Claridge’s in London.

A sophisticated back-end booking system means clients can take their own availability as a starting point and book direct. Unlike concierge services, Little Book of Wonders does not reactively source restaurant tables at short notice or offer discounts on hotel rooms; rather it presents clients with ideas and gives them chance to make the most of their spare time, to network with peers and to explore what their wealth means to them.

Commenting on the launch, David Hughes, Head of Affinity Partnerships at Barclays, said:
“We wanted to develop a concept that would surprise and delight clients. As they are often short on time, Little Book of Wonders, which can be accessed across the digital spectrum, does the thinking for clients, enabling them to use the ‘in-between minutes’ to enter the portal and access a curated world of events and experiences that is exclusive to them."

(source : Barclays)