Carnival concierge services can be a lifesaver.
Particularly for those who have heavy schedules and can’t move around as they would like to obtain what they need so that they can be ready to hit the road on Monday and Tuesday.
Typically, Carnival concierge services are usually connected to costume and ticket collections and deliveries.
These services have grown in popularity, and notoriety due to scams and inconsistent services, in the past decade.
However, the Ivy Bar is offering something a little different, providing hydration services via a concierge IV hydration and IV pop-up clinic.
This service is geared towards those who went right down until they lie down and find themselves unable to get back up to continue as a result.
“We are going to do intravenous hydration, which is what most who are intoxicated experience,” said Karen Mason, the United States-based co-founder of the Ivy Bar.
She explained that her team had been looking at potential businesses to explore during the Carnival season and upon recognising the high amount of alcohol consumed and the continuous stream of events particularly later down in the season, that their services may be needed.
“We were just sort of thinking of business Ideas, I thought that this would be a good service to provide for Carnival,” said Mason.
As the name would suggest, the IVY Bar would see their customers feed fluids into their system via IV feeds to push along their recovery.
“We are going to do intravenous hydration, which is what most who are intoxicated experience,” she explained.
The Ivy Bar will be hosting a pop-up clinic at Albion Court, where these services will be offered during Carnival.
She added that such services have been available in Trinidad for some time.
“There are a lot of IV hydration bars, there are actually a few in Trinidad, that provide re-hydration services,” she said, but she explained that what sets the Ivy Bar apart is that while this service is available at other locations in Trinidad, they are willing to come to you.
“We are going to come to you, your home, your apartment, wherever you are,” she said.
The Ivy Bar also plans to set up a pop clinic at a convenient location to accommodate revellers who require re-hydration.
She gave the assurance that the team that would man these services are indeed trained professionals.
“We are licensed practitioners. We have done emergency services and intravenous services for years,” said Mason.
She however warned that while the service is geared towards those who are heavily intoxicated and dehydrated as a result, it was not a miracle cure for a hangover but rather a source of relief for those who are looking to recover.
“It depends on how intoxicated you are. The treatment is not a magical cure. They just provide hydration and energy, but your liver is what metabolises the alcohol. So it depends on your own body’s metabolism,” said Mason, “But for a lot of people who are significantly dehydrated by alcohol, these people will feel some degree of relief based on their level of intoxication.”
It is not the first time that hangover relief has been marketed during the Carnival season.
In Carnival 2019, the fete patch was introduced to the public as an antidote to hangovers.
It was created by Damien And Sara Gurley and Michael and Melanie Laracy. The patch is required to be worn before the consumer starts drinking alcohol and is to be worn for a 24-hour period to alleviate any hangover feeling the morning after the party.
Since then, other hydration patches, meant to grant hangover relief have hit the market.
However the IV treatment is very much an after-the-fact remedy compared to the patch, Mason said her treatment would affect the body sooner.
“They are oral medications, they take a while to be absorbed into the body,” said Mason on the use of the patch versus the use of IV hydration.
She said the IV treatment would have varying results based on the amount of alcohol consumed and the state of dehydration.
“Dehydrated people who are significantly intoxicated will feel better in about an hour,” she said.
The service is also not just for the dehydrated or hungover, but for those who are low on energy after a long day at work or for individuals who may have just disembarked a plane and have an event to attend shortly there.
Mason explained that the treatment would also aid in boosting energy so the customers can properly enjoy their events.
The Ivy Bar currently offers two treatments; ‘The Hard Fete Treatment’ which is geared towards boosting energy ahead of activities which would see customers fed B Complex, folic acid, magnesium and normal saline intravenously
The hangover recovery mix, entitled “The Vibe Treatment” also features B Complex, folic acid, magnesium and normal saline but also will include ondansetron.
The “Hard Fete Treatment” costs $800 while “The Vibe Treatment” will set customers back $900.
Since announcing the service on social media, Mason said there has been significant demand.
“The feedback that we have gotten is why have you guys not been here before?” she said, “We could have pushed this a lot harder or faster.”
However, having arrived in time for Carnival week, the Ivy Bar team is still expecting to do significant business as the events ramp up towards the tail end of the season.