We engaged Renaud Valdenaire based
on his stated 20 years of experience guiding
nightlife in Tokyo.
Our firm has been operating for nearly 40 years, working exclusively with ultra-high-net-worth clients. We are meticulous in our planning and rely on local specialists to elevate—not simply execute—what we design.
In this case, we prepaid for four days of tour guide services with the clear expectation that Renaud Valdenaire would be present, available, and actively advising throughout each evening.
That did not happen.
On the night in question, despite extensive planning and more than 15 calls and numerous text messages throughout the day, there was effectively no communication. We would occasionally receive brief responses, but nothing that resembled real-time guidance or coordination. More importantly, he did not perform the role he was hired for. He was not present as a guide, did not provide direction, and did not participate in the execution of the evening in any meaningful way.
The structure of the night had been carefully designed in advance. It involved two VIP tables at T2 Shinjuku, where Renaud Valdenaire had represented that he had a strong relationship with the general manager. We made it clear that we were bringing in a model for a nyotaimori presentation—covered in banana leaves and floral, with sushi placed in a tasteful and respectful manner. This required precise timing, movement between spaces, and discretion.
Renaud Valdenaire claimed he had secured permission for this, even acknowledging it was sensitive and in fact illegal. I offered him an extra $300.00 if he would make it happen and the unclothed model would be in & out in 30 minutes. Then, approximately 45 minutes before the event, he reversed course and stated that junior management would not allow it to proceed.
At that point, we had already committed significant costs: approximately $1,140 for the sushi model (including travel from Osaka, floral, and chef), $1,249 in prepaid guide fees, and approximately $1,230 in VIP tables and bottle service that ultimately went completely unused. In total, roughly $3,600 tied to this single segment.
More critically, when our clients arrived, the venue was literally empty. Within five minutes, they walked out. For a group that had committed to a four-day, six-figure experience, this was unacceptable.
When we asked Renaud Valdenaire why he had not advised us that the venue would not have meaningful attendance at that hour, his response was: “You never asked.” He had mentioned that other venues the following night would peak around 1:00 a.m., but did not apply that same logic to this booking.
That omission alone undermined the entire evening and was entirely avoidable.
Instead of guiding, anticipating, and protecting the experience, Renaud Valdenaire was absent at the most critical moment. A professional with 20 years in Tokyo nightlife would know exactly how these venues behave by time of night and would advise accordingly. That did not happen.
To be clear, this is not about taste or preference. It is about professional responsibility. A guide is expected to guide—to anticipate, advise, and be present. Simply facilitating tables and bottle service, while collecting commission, does not meet that standard. NOTE You can save roughly the $550.00 commission for your bottle service and table simply by having a ¥12,000 per hour tour guide, have him/her walk in with a potential Japanese guest and ask for the rate card. NOT the one you see form the club promoter but the club itself. You will save hundreds of dollars per evening as they make between 40% and 50% depending.
We didn’t mind the spend as we wanted him to kill it and if more money makes us worthwhile as a pain in the derriere, fine by us.
We are raising this directly in the interest of resolving it cleanly before taking any further steps.
Given the above, we expect a refund of the prepaid guide fees and a half of the value of the unused tables & bottles. While we have little expectation of recovery, the reality is that our client was billed for an experience they did not receive, and this situation will need to be formally accounted for one way or another.
Renaud Valdenaire’s collaborating partner, Kai in Las Vegas (VegasKaii), was involved in arranging this engagement and has also been unresponsive in addressing the situation.