“A lot of my clients are billionaires… they just hang out with each other.” – Wayne Yeh

In this episode of Somewhere in New York, the host sits down with Wayne Yeh, founder and CEO of The Champ, to explore how the ultra-wealthy actually travel—and why relationships matter more than money.

Wayne explains how his company operates as a membership-based lifestyle management service, where clients—many of them billionaires—have 24/7 access to a concierge team via WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal. From securing sold-out hotel suites to coordinating entire entourages (security, chefs, assistants), the job goes far beyond booking travel. It’s about eliminating friction from a client’s life.

The conversation dives into the new era of luxury travel: safaris in Africa, Antarctica expeditions, ultra-luxury cruises, and wellness retreats designed around longevity and biohacking. They also unpack the economics behind the surge in luxury travel prices since COVID, why relationships with hotels unlock experiences money alone cannot buy, and how many wealthy clients now live a multi-city lifestyle, moving between homes in New York, Europe, and beyond.

Along the way, Wayne shares how his business blends Asian hospitality culture, high-touch service, and modern tools like AI—while still believing that the human element is the real luxury.

Takeaways

1. Wayne Yeh founded The Champ, a luxury travel and lifestyle management company based in Hong Kong and New York.
2. Many of his clients are billionaires, and most new clients come through referrals within the same social circles.
3. The company operates on a membership model, giving clients 24/7 concierge access through private messaging groups.
4. Requests can range from booking hotels to coordinating entire travel entourages including security and personal staff.
5. Relationships with hotels often unlock perks like upgrades, VIP arrivals, and rooms that appear “sold out” online.
6. Luxury travel prices have increased dramatically since COVID—sometimes two to three times higher than before.
7. Experiential travel is dominating the luxury market: safaris, Antarctica trips, and exclusive cruises.
8. Many ultra-wealthy clients now live a “multi-city lifestyle,” maintaining homes in several global destinations.
9. Travel experiences often lead clients to eventually purchase homes in places they visit frequently.
10. Wealthy travelers increasingly prioritize wellness, longevity, and biohacking as part of their lifestyle.
11. Wayne believes luxury service means solving problems immediately—even if it costs the company money in the moment.
12. AI is used behind the scenes for productivity and data analysis, but the human touch remains essential.
13. The ultimate luxury isn’t just money—it’s access, relationships, and seamless experiences.

Chapters

Introduction: luxury travel meets real estate

Wayne Yeh’s background and founding Champ Travel

The membership-based concierge model

Why billionaires rely on referrals and trusted networks

How travel advisors unlock VIP access and perks

The explosion of luxury travel pricing after COVID

Experiential travel: safaris, Antarctica, and luxury cruises

Multi-city living and the rise of global citizens

Wellness travel, longevity, and biohacking trends

Using AI in high-touch concierge businesses

Why long-term relationships matter more than short-term profit

Rapid fire: impossible requests and luxury insights

Tags

#SomewhereInNewYork #LuxuryTravel #ChampTravel #WayneYeh #LuxuryLifestyle #ConciergeService #LuxuryConcierge #HighNetWorth #BillionaireLifestyle #UltraLuxuryTravel #ExperientialTravel #LuxurySafaris #AntarcticaTravel #WellnessTravel #Biohacking #GlobalCitizens #MultiCityLiving #VIPAccess #Hospitality #LuxuryService