One British person from Birkenhead in Wirral who dropped out of high school and didn’t get any GCSEs is now a high flyer in Las Vegas, working with celebrities, athletes, and thousands of tourists. Joel Gilbert, 37, started Upbeat Vegas, a VIP concierge and tourism company, in 2014. It gives people looking for adventure 5-star experiences in “Sin City.”
Joel started his business because he saw a need in the market. He saw that a lot of tourists from the UK go to Las Vegas without knowing much about how fast-paced and constantly changing life is there. Joel and his team at Upbeat Vegas help people plan their own trips and get special access to restaurants, venues, events, and more through their business.
Originally a nightclub rep, Joel created the unique concept to ensure tourists receive the best Vegas experience at the best industry value without getting ripped off. He hired 10 people to help him run his business, and they now work with famous people like Charlie Sheen, Joey Essex, Jesse Lingard, Mark Noble, Darren Till, and many more. Almost 5,000 holidaymakers have asked for his help so far.
Joel has come a long way since he was told he would never amount to anything as a teenager. Now he is known as “your guy on the ground” who can give you the pass to the best time in Las Vegas. When he was young, his father left, and he became a rebel. He got one D, two Es, four Fs, and a U in GCSEs, so he didn’t have much hope of having a successful career.
Joel, originally from Birkenhead, Wirral, explained:
“My Dad left when I was 2 and I never saw him again. He never contributed to child support either so my mother had to work multiple jobs and I was always dressed in hand me down clothes and was given toys from friends and cousins until I was a teenager.”
“We moved to Hertfordshire and struggled to concentrate in high school — I was even suspended a couple of times. Multiple teachers wrote me off and told me straight I’d never amount to anything. I was always a young entrepreneur though — I painted lines on football pitches for money as a teen and sold sweets to kids in school. I left school straight after GCSEs and got a job in a supermarket.”
Soon after, Joel lost interest in living in the UK. He found work as a holiday rep in Greece while on a lads holiday. This got him jobs as a holiday rep in Ibiza, Tenerife, Australia, Asia, and finally Las Vegas, where he saw a lot of British tourists go to sketchy places, lose money, get ripped off, and have bad times.
Joel explained:
“It was painful, having to catch a bus an hour into town in the freezing cold 6 days a week, to then have to work in a freezer for most of the day. I’ve nothing against the job but I was depressed at having no qualifications or prospects — with teachers convincing me I would go nowhere in life. I went on a lads holiday to Greece and ended up staying there but it was Vegas that changed my life forever.”
“Working as a nightclub rep, I talked to so many tourists. We all love The Hangover movie but things can go wrong here. I developed a great knowledge of life here and all the dos and don’ts so I created Upbeat Vegas to save tourists time, hassle and money — 10 years later we have thousands of happy clients. We have the inside knowledge and provide people with luxury 5 star experiences at industry prices.”
It’s free for Upbeat Vegas to talk to a client about what kind of vacation they want. Then, Joel and his team can give you all the professional advice you need and set up a package and itinerary that includes things like limo transfers, hotel deals, upgrades, VIP access, tours, adventures, deals, and more. Through Upbeat Vegas, he saves people who are going to Las Vegas from the trouble, stress, and mistakes.
Love Island’s Sam Bird said:
“Picked up in a limo with loads of drinks, taken straight to the Vegas sign and then onto a Dancefloor table. No waiting in lines. VIP treatment and an unreal location. Next day we had a cabana sorted at Wet Republic. Joel proper hooked us up! If you want to do Vegas the right way, you have to go to Upbeat!”
Joel summarised:
“It’s funny how life can turn out. My teachers labelled me as naughty and drilled it into me that I would amount to nothing without qualifications. I ended up believing that but was determined to prove them wrong — and prove my Dad wrong for walking out too. Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I’m hanging out with stars such as Floyd Mayweather and 50 CENT — it’s crazy!”
“I saw a gap in the market but honestly didn’t expect the business to boom like this! We have so many 5 star reviews and most of our business comes from referrals from people who have had an epic time through us. We’ve even been featured by FOX News, Digital Journal and others. My advice to others is don’t let your qualifications define you and just go for it!”
Joel who dropped out of school and didn’t get any GCSEs is now a high flyer in Las Vegas, working with celebrities, athletes, and thousands of tourists. Joel Gilbert, 37, started Upbeat Vegas, a VIP concierge and tourism company, in 2014. It gives people looking for adventure 5-star experiences in “Sin City.”
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