It’s hard to describe Andrea Soueidan’s professional role, but it’s even harder to point out what she cannot do. Putting great individuals in her network in touch and helping them carry out or meet their objectives is her main goal, this is what she has always done. This passion is, in fact, what motivated her to create Altitude Connections, her company, whose name is quite representative. Andrea has a lot of connections and will always use them to help out. And one day, a friend told her you should make a business out of it. And that’s exactly what she did.
How did you start your business?
Altitude Connections just celebrated its 10 -year anniversary last February. I started just for fun, by helping out friends, family and connections around me to get what they want or helping them find something. People were always asking me: where to shop, where to dine, where to lounge?
I was born and raised in Montreal, but I lived in Chicago for 16 years and Dubai for 5, and when I returned to Montreal 6 years ago, people thought of me as well-traveled person who knew a lot of things and a lot of people. I’m attentive to details, trends, fashion, style. I never thought of starting a company until one of my friends joked about it. I then realized I could turn my hobby into a real business, because I saw at that time that some people really needed a facilitator. I chose my business name because I use my connections to assist my clients.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you
I am a very discreet person, especially when it comes to my private life. I’m blessed to have two beautiful children and traditions are also very important to me. That’s why I celebrate every Holiday with loved ones and I think that’s also a huge part of my business model. I am also very organized and attentive to details and recognized for my time management. I always write everything on a sticky note. Every request I receive is noted on a coloured Post-it and every colour represents a different request category: event, household, decoration, diner, etc. I must say that I always experience a bit of satisfaction when I can get rid of all my post-it: that means that I handled all my requests.
How would you define your services? What does lifestyle management mean to you?
Altitude Connections is a modern concierge service where lifestyle specialists help you make the impossible possible in every sphere of your life. Customer service is definitely the key to our success. My busiest time of the year is, without question, around Christmas. We help with: Holiday shopping, gift wrapping and deliveries. The Holiday Season is a big deal and we can: decorate our client’s home, outdoors and indoors, find a natural or artificial Christmas tree, mailing out Holiday cards, finding the right caterer and much more!
Some of our more popular services, depending on the season, include housekeeping, event and party planning, such as New Year’s, vacations, restaurants, group dinners or a chef at home and shopping. I really like shopping and decorating. I have an affinity for discreet beauty.
Who is your typical clientele? What are they looking for?
My clients have a very busy schedule. Our services are not only for the wealthy as everyone can access them. Busy professionals remain our first market. We help them manage those aspects of their lives they don’t have time for: like vacation planning or event organization. People are looking for an easy solution, they want things to get done. Word-of-mouth works particularly well for a company like ours.
How will your business evolve over the next 5 years?
For the time being, I am only based in Montreal. However, I would like to expand my services and implement them in other cities. My goal is to find the right partners in other major cities, in order to do even more for people. I have connections in other cities: Toronto, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Dubai, and if you tell me I’m going to Paris, I’ll still find you what you need, but I never recommend a place that I haven’t visited myself. I need to have a feel of the place and vouch for it before sending my clients there. I cannot be everywhere so a team that I trust would be a nice next step for my business.
For more information about Altitude Connections: www.altitudeconnections.com
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