Lorre White, The Guru of Luxury

Happy New Year to all our friends and followers of Lorre White, "The Luxury Guru"

Lorre, and all at White Light Consulting,  would like to wish everyone a very happy, successful and prosperous New Year!

May  2013 be your best year yet!

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should you hire staff based on their Klout scores?

 Marketers at the top brands and creative directors at the best ad agencies average higher than their peers. Is it time to use the socialgraph for recruitment?

 

 

Should employees be evaluated on the price of their ‘social currency’? That’s a question we were discussing in PSFK recently when our consulting team asked us all to come up with ways to help a prospective client of theirs judge the effectiveness of retained work. We talked at length about using a “Klout score“  as a metric to judge an employees’ level of cultural participation.

Klout’s system monitors the frequency and shareability of people’s updates across social networks such as Twitter, Google Plus, Facebook and Pinterest. Through an algorithm, the service gives a score to everyone who signs up – and because Twitter is indexable by spiders, the social scoring service has a number for every tweeter with a public account. You can watch a video of an interview conducted by PSFK’s head of consulting, Scott Lachut, during our San Francisco event last year with Klout’s founder Joe Fernandez where he explains the service and its implications in greater detail.

The challenge Scott and his consulting team wanted to overcome was how they could judge the impact of providing an internal client team with weekly debrief of leading edge culture and ideas from around the world. How do you measure something so abstract?

Klout is an interesting metric because, in theory, it quantifies how well people are engaging with culture. Using criteria such as regularity of online conversation and network reach, a user gets a higher score based on how frequently they are involved in discussions and how far those discussions are traveling. Our team’s conclusion was that if they did their job well and inspired their clients, then their social conversation would increase and their Klout scores should rise over time.

Arguably, a Klout score describes how engaged someone is in the wider conversation around culture. If you have a job in which you’re tasked with creating and disseminating culture, could Klout be used to judge your effectiveness – or at the very least rate your level of participation in this cultural discussion?

PSFK analyzed the scores of two types of executives to see if their score could be correlated with their company’s performance. Our research shows that creative directors at more highly regarded ad agencies have a higher Klout score than their peers at lesser performing firms. We also found that marketing chiefs at the more progressive brands had a better score than those at less innovative companies – in fact, the less ‘innovative’ a company, the less likely the marketing chief had a Klout score at all.

Agency Creativity & Klout

When we looked at Advertising Age latest list of the top ad-agencies in the US, we found that the senior creative at each agency in the top 10 – had an average score of 51.6 – while the creatives in the bottom 10 of the list had an average score of 38.8. [Note - this figure has been updated with Huge's Joe Stewart since PSFK originally published this article]

Rei Inamato, with his lofty score of 68, is also the top creative of what AdAge considers is the most creative agency on the list. If you remove the creative from the bottom 10 list, then the average Klout score for the bottom ten drops down to under 32 – almost twenty points less than folks in the top 10.

Beyond the difference in scores between the top 10 and the bottom 10, what’s also surprising is that at least 50% of creative execs who work for firms in the ad agency list don’t have a Klout score – which begs the question, what are they doing running an ad agency if they’re not directly engaging in modern communication mechanics? I approached a couple of the agencies on this list about this, but they declined to comment.

Brand Innovation & Klout

After analyzing the agency market, we looked at the latest available Top 100 Most Innovative Companies list from Forbes and extracted what we considered to be ‘lifestyle brands’. We found an even greater disparity between the top marketers and the bottom ones  than we identified when evaluating the advertising industry. The four chief marketers who worked at the top 10 most innovative lifestyle brands had an average score of 60.25. Whereas, only one marketer in the bottom 10 brands had a Twitter account – Chris Capossela  of Microsoft – and his score was 42.

It would be interesting to perform this analysis over time to see how an individual’s score changes respective to the ranking of their company.

Sure, while this may be a quick-dip into the subject, their is a level of robustness around the scores of the people featured. I’m sure that many of the executives who don’t have a score could argue that they are too busy running the companies they work at to participate online – but considering how the world is changing, there’s definitely a large part of being a successful, modern creative or marketer involves staying on top of and participating in what’s going on, regardless of whether you’re a CMO, Creative Director or new hire. Sure, you can get your staff to tell you about channels like Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest but the best way to leverage these tools effectively across an organization is to be actively engaged with them as well.

Klout has an extra feature that should be noted. By combining updates with user suggestions, the service tells you what people are experts are in. If you want to hire an expert in an industry sector, maybe Klout will reveal whether they really are one?

I think people are going to feel uneasy about the notion of a prospective employer checking an interviewee’s Klout score but it doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. Recruiting is not a gentleman’s sport with a level playing field – every participant (employer and employee) needs to use any and every tool at their disposal to gain an advantage. And given its formula, Klout seems to be a very robust way available to judge the cultural capacity of a prospective or existing employee. How far off are we from having employees bring their scores to annual reviews to reveal how engaged with culture they were and around what topics they influenced others?

And sure, as one of the PSFK Consulting team reminded us, Klout can be gamed so that people can receive higher scores than they might otherwise be entitled. But perhaps, we as employers should be even more interested in hiring someone who knows how to manipulate social media to their own advantage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Piers Fawkes

http://www.psfk.com

51, Buckingham Gate, London’s ultra discreet and residential, all-suite hotel by Taj

 

 

Steps from Buckingham Palace and within walking distance from many attractions, including Mayfair and Hyde Park, 51 Buckingham Gate is the only suite of India’s Taj Hotels in Europe. Housed within the heritage St James’ Place complex, 51 Buckingham Gate is an all suite hotel (just 80 suites). Despite the lavish size of accommodations, the hotel is very intimate and mostly discreet, an ideal hide-away location for celebrities and personalities from all walks of life seeking privacy.

Service is provided by an amazing team of butlers, some of whome have been with the hotel for more than a decade. Two of those who trulu pampered me during my stay, were Vasi and Iara, always on call and always ready to help. From concierge tips, un-packing, serving breakfast or tea, butlers are trained to strive for perfection. Arriving all soaked from a rainy afternoon of shopping, Iara was kind to provide the ultimate warm-up and energizing relief – a body scrub by Molton Brown (large size amenities throughout all suites), based on peppermint and ginger. I not only avoided a cold but felt so relaxed.

The residential feel is heightened by the furnishings and facilities of all suites – state of the art home cinema TVs and sound systems with a complex remote control panel (probably the most advanced among suites at luxury hotels in London). The hotel provides and extensive DVD menu, complimentary, so one could enjoy his or her favourite movie tucked in a very comfortable Italian couch in the living room. There is a fully equipped modern, open kitcken, in each suite – ideal for families but also for VIPs travelling with their staff.

Breakfast is served in the Library Lounge of the hotel, resembling a living room of a mansion – with a functional fireplace, couches, armchairs and a well maintained wooden floor. Breakfast food is excellent, especially the selection of fresh organic juices and fruits, not to mention the pastries, among the best I have ever had. Butlers remember each detail about your preference, so they welcome you each morning as you were in your own home. The Library Lounge also serves complimentary afternoon drinks, including spirits and cocktails as well as snacks, with a wide range of English teas.

Reception and lobby area are very small, however, I was pleased to learn the hotel as near future plans to expand and double the space, as well as add a new restaurant. The Quilon, the present fine dining restaurant is London’s only Michelin starred restaurant, serving exquisit Indian food from the South East of India. Despite the rather robotic service and the basic decor (which i would suggest refurbishment), Quilon provided for an excellent experience of Indian cuisine, of similar quality to the the finest dining in India.

Having stayed at Taj Hotels before, the 51 Buckingham Gate is certainly different, but with the planned expansion, including a much needed refurbishment of the SPA, it will not only retain its already high rating among London luxury hotels but it will also be comparable to some of Taj’s iconic properties.

During my stay, I also visited the two custom designed suites, which the hotel launched this year – the only ever suite designed by the creative director of a luxury car brand (JAGUAR) and Cinema themed suite, which uniquely blends Hollywood and Bollywood in a very subtle manner. Both suites are huge in size and the details are exceptional - from the leather chairs in the dining room which feel exactly the same as sitting in  a Jaguar model, the original Jaguar themed wall paper and cutting edge fireplace resembling the back of a Jaguar car, to a study room inspired by the Godfather movie and a bohemian bedroom made, in classic Parisian style, which makes guests feel like a famous actor or actress staying in a Parisian apartement.

Designed by Indian fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, known for its couture gowns and A list clients around the world, the Cinema Suite impresses not only with details such as antique books and original art works, which pay tribute to cinema but also with artworks designed by young artists supported by Sabyasachi. His fashion background has also allowed him to capture the glam side of cinema, one of my most favourite pieces being a hand made painting with a ”couture” embroidery frame. Guests of the suite can order such a paiting for a mere 10.000 pounds, an entirely worth lifestyle souvenir.

Oliver Petcu in London

Dining room of Cinema Suite at the 51, Buckingham Gate Hotel London by TAJ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.cpp-luxury.com

A year in review 2012 – luxury markets with the highest potential for growth

Although, at times, overshadowed by the excessive coverage on China, several important international luxury markets have shown solid growth in 2012, defying worldwide volatile economic conditions. These markets have been showing great potential not only for the retail sector but also for hospitality, yachting and travel, with an increased apetite for luxury and with a strong motivation to buy locally rather than abroad. In our extensive analysis materials of 2012, we have looked at the evolution of these markets and the constant growth both in terms of sales but also in terms of buying power, especially among the upper middle class, not necessarily the super rich.

Colombia – an impressive GDP growth / growth of all economy sectors / stable political environment / booming upper middle class / a wealthy segment increasingly driven by lifestyle (golf, polo, cultural events)

Indonesia – sheer size of the wealthy population, not necessarily ultra rich / excellent infrastructure / culture for luxury and lifestyle driven shopping

Australia – increase in luxury consumption by locals and other Asian countries, especially Chinese foreigners / third worldwide in number of luxury openings / construction boom determined by increased demand

Turkey – solid economy – least affected by the Euro debt crisis / fast growing upper middle class / increase in wealthy relocating from Syria and Egypt

Germany - excellent infrastructure and air connectivity to most emerging markets / double digit growth in number of wealthy arriving from the Middle East (most of them on long stays)

At the other end, we identified the ”disappointing” luxury markets, which have either stagnated or proven increasingly volatile because of the economy and political environment.

Russia – proposed luxury tax to be implemented in 2013 / already luxury goods are 20 to 25% more expensive than abroad / many brands still operate through local franchisees or exclusive deals / corruption and huge real estate costs

Ukraine – the political environment has dampened the economy, reducing drastically buying power

India – lack of infrastructure / despite ease in direct investment legislation, India provides the most challenging ”to do business” for luxury

There are also the ”volatile” luxury markets of France and Italy, which now depend over 70% on foreign wealthy travellers, however, political instability and pressure for restructuring due to the debt crisis, increased taxation is expected in 2013 – France’s administration already announcing plans for a luxury tax and Italy’s fiscal authorities clamping down on tax avoidance, conducting a fierce PR campaign which have seen sales of Ferrari drop by 50% in 2012 in Italy. Another risk is the pressure luxury brands face from the growing costs of real estate, most international luxury brands investing in 2012 in opening or enlarging their street location flagship stores.

Oliver Petcu

Queens Plaza Mall, Brisbane (Vuitton, Ferragamo, Chanel etc)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.cpp-luxury.com

The world’s top 10 islands to visit

National Geographic has come up with a top 10 islands to visit. Now you might expect to see the islands of the Maldives or maybe one or two of the Greek islands, but no… this list is quite different. There’s no Fiji, no Seychelles, and it seems that even the Galapagos don’t make the grade for National Geographic this time around.

 

Here’s their list of the top 10 islands to visit.

1. Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA
2. Isles of Scilly, England, UK
3. Saba, Netherlands West Indies
4. Canary Islands
5. Fair Isle, Scotland, UK
6. Lord Howe Islands, Australia
7. Capri, Italy
8. Channel Islands, California, USA
9. Tahiti, French Polynesia
10. Islands of the Andaman Sea, Thailand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Paul Johnson

http://www.aluxurytravelblog.com

Ralph Lauren opens in Kuwait largest store in the Middle East

Ralph Lauren store, Avenues Mall, Kuwait

Covering 1350 sqm, the new flagship store of Ralph Lauren at The Avenues Mall, features the entire universe of the brand. The store is operated by Chalhoub Group, UAE based luxury retailer. Earlier this Fall, Kuwait’s leading retailer opened in franchising theHarvey Nichols department store, also at the Avenues Mall. Other major international luxury brands with stores at The Avenues Mall in Kuwait include Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton etc. Most of the PPR Group brands (Bottega Veneta, Gucci etc) stores opened within the360 Mall, the other upscale mall in Kuwait City.

Ralph Lauren has been lagging behind other major international luxury brands in terms of retail presence, especially in Europe, in most markets still operating in franchising (including Russia, where most major brands have now started direct operations). Ralph Lauren is notably absent (with mono-brand stores) from important markets in Europe such as Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Spain and Switzerland – in most of these markets, the house being lower positioned and mostly in wholesale (multi-brand stores) with the Polo and Denim lines. John Hooks, ex number 2 at Armani Group, took over the position as Group President EMEA of Ralph Lauren over a year ago and has yet to boost the presence of the brand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.cpp-luxury.com

The Chinese yacht manufacturer making a dent in the European market

Cheoy Lee Alpha Express Flybridge

The Chinese yacht manufacturer making a dent in the European market

The word Yacht invariably conjures up a certain image- It’s hard to imagine anything other than cruising around the Mediterranean, bikini-clad women abound. With this in mind it's no wonder the vast majority of Yacht manufacturers are European. Despite this, there is one company staging a continental invasion of the industry, and sailing to victory.

 

Cheoy Lee had humble beginnings as a building and repair yard in 1870 at Po Tung Point in Shanghai. For the next sixty years garnered construction expertise and knowledge of powered craft though their shipyard until, in 1936, the company moved to Hong Kong where they came into their own. In the following years Cheoy Lee moved from specializing in powered cargo boats to Teak sailing craft and motor yachts until by 1960 the vast majority of their production was in luxury leisure.

 

The 1960’s also saw the advent of fibreglass. Cheoy Lee became one of the pioneers in the development, testing and use of fiberglass construction techniques and soon thereafter, wood construction was phased out. Cheoy Lee next became a forerunner in the marine use of GRP/foam sandwich technology, now widely used, the crowning achievent coming in 1977 with the production of the world's largest GRP yacht of the time, the 130' motorsailer "Shango II", and by 1979 the first all foam cored production motoryacht came on line; the Cheoy Lee 48’ Sport Yacht.

 

Cheoy Lee Bravo 88

Lounge of the Bravo 88

Galley of the Bravo 88

Cheoy Lee MAZU Superyacht

Master Bedroom of the MAZU

Lounge of the MAZU

Over 140 years on and Cheoy Lee’s innovations continue to impress. At the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show this year they were the only brand to launch three new models, an astounding feat of prolific engineering, especially considering they are three very different animals.

 

The Alpha 76 Express Flybridge is the Bugatti of the seas- an express yacht with a sleek, high performance, monocoque-constructed hull. This not only provides greater strength but also allows quieter running. The Alpha is designed for comfort with minimal shock and spray on deck even at its top speed of 38 knots.

 

The stunning exterior was designed by the internationally acclaimed Michael Peters, while the interiors come courtesy of Luiz de Basto. The yacht also features SmartGlass- digitally transitioning glass that flows from transparent to opaque in seconds, blocks 99.5% of UV rays and allows for advanced temperature control, not to mention something to impress your guests.

 

The Alpha Express Flybridge complements the Alpha 76 Express, which launched in 2011 and has a revised interior layout, with its galley is on the main deck, freeing up enough space below to accommodate six adults comfortably in the large staterooms.

 

As a mid-sized addition to the Cheoy Lee armada is the all new Bravo 88. offering sea-worthiness unmatched by other motor yachts in its class, its classic hull design and top speeds of 25 knots, make it perfect for luxury cruising. Combined with a light but incredibly strong composite structure, the Bravo 88 runs highly efficiently right through its speed range, ensuring a soft, dry ride.

 

Designed by M.G. Burvenich Yacht Design, a long time partner of Cheoy Lee, the Bravo 88 has a hard-topped, spacious flybridge and a galley on the main deck with an informal dining area, featuring panoramic views from the pilothouse windows. The stylish and comfortable saloon has sliding glass doors opening onto the aft deck.

 

The Bravo 88 accommodates eight guests in its four staterooms. The master and VIP suites are flooded with natural light to give an extra spacious feel.

 

The final yacht launched this year is also by far the biggest. The new behemoth 46-metre MAZU superyacht has an impressive range of 6,600 nautical miles at 12 knots, burning only 41 gallons of fuel per hour. The yacht’s top speed is 15 knots and is designed by Ron Holland, with interiors by KCA International.

 

The MAZU has enough space for up to 10 guests and a crew of 12. The owner’s deck features a penthouse suite, complemented by a VIP double, a guest double and a twin cabin on the lower deck. If extra space for guests is needed, it’s also possible to turn the gym into a single room.

 

Fore section of the Alpha Express Flybridge

An impressive display of innovation and application, the three new models admirably compliment Cheoy Lee’s growing fleet and, due to high demand, can now be purchased in Europe through their newest distributor, Cheoy Lee Riviera.

 

Founded by Athos Cleanthous and Nick Lockett in January 2012, Cheoy Lee Riviera is the exclusive European distributor for Cheoy Lee Shipyards. Based in Cannes to give customers direct access to the Mediterranean, Cheoy Lee Riviera offers a fully-managed design, build and after sales service for a range of yachts from 60 to 118 feet. With access to the new models, it is an inroad into Europe that will undoubtedly cement Cheoy Lee as one of the premier Yacht builders in the world. As a further benefit to celebrate the launch of both Cheoy Lee Riviera and the new yacht models, all new customers will be granted a free Mediterranean berth for a year.

 

With a larger number of new models this year than any other manufacturer, and with their newest dedicated distributor right on the Mediterranean sea, there’s no doubt that Cheoy Lee has its sights set on Europe and with an impressive armada may well conquer the seas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://luxworldwide.com

Few brands that can claim a pedigree as prestigious as Arnold & Son

Arnold & Son DBS

The world's greatest watchmaker and the company he founded

While there are many watchmakers in the world that lay claim to being the oldest, most advanced, or to have invented specific parts and movements, there are few brands that can claim a pedigree as prestigious as Arnold & Son. One of the most famed British names in horology and invention, Arnold & Son has roots dating back nearly 250 years, with the watchmaker for whom the brand is named playing arguably the most significant role in watchmaking history.

 

John Arnold was born in Cornwall in 1736. From an early age he picked up the basics of horology from his father, as well as a love of engineering influenced by his uncle, a prestigious gunsmith. A talented craftsman and scholar even in early life, he left England for the Netherlands at the age of 19 after completing his watchmaking apprenticeship. He returned two years later speaking excellent German, which stood him in good stead at the court of George III, and was already a watchmaker of repute by his mid-twenties.

 

In 1764 Arnold presented the smallest repeating watch ever made to King George III and to his court. With an overwhelmingly positive reception from the king, he rapidly gained a reputation as one of the most inventive watchmakers of his day, holding patents for a detent escapement, bimetallic balance and helical balance spring, all inventions that have defined the watch industry to this day. Arnold's "No. 36" was the first timepiece to be called a chronometer, a term that to this day denotes only the most accurate timepieces. This chronometer was the first timekeeping instrument that kept accuracy over a long enough period of time to make a reliable determination of longitude, winning Arnold not only a fortune in prize money, but worldwide respect and recognition.

 

John Arnold's Marine Chronomter

Arnold 36

John Arnold movement with a dedication and Tourbillon from Louis-Abraham Breguet

John Arnold’s technical expertise were unmatched by any other than his close friend Abraham-Louis Breguet, who later placed one of his first Tourbillons into an Arnold pocket watch as tribute, along with a dedication. Arnold's marine chronometers were highly prized by the Queen’s navy and In 1787 he founded Arnold & Son whose timepieces accompanied the most illustrious of English explorers—Sir Ernest Shackelton, Captain Cook and Captain Phipps—on their famed expeditions.

 

Nearly two and a half centuries on from his first watch, Arnold & Son still hold strong to their prestigious heritage. They belong to a select group of watchmaking companies in Switzerland entitled to call themselves a manufacture, a French term reserved exclusively for watchmakers who develop and produce their own movements completely in-house, from the original design to the final embellishments on the rotor. The brand's prowess in the development and production of in-house movements is reflected by an impressive collection of Arnold & Son calibres with a complete range of sophisticated complications. This would be achievement enough for most brands, however one with a heritage so profoundly rich don’t rest there. Every year at least two completely new movements are produced. Whereas some brands would be happy to bring out new cases and dial variations for what is essentially an old model, Arnold and Son keep pushing forward the limit of horology, year after year.

 

The first of the two movements this year was the Instrument Collection’s DBS. A reinvention and tribute to two masterpieces of horology from 1796 and 1799, the piece combines both a double balance and sidereal time. Featuring some of the most famous inventions of father and son, including their extraordinary thermo-compensated Z balance, expansion escapement and gold helical spring, it is no exaggeration to say that they represented the state of the art in the micromechanics of their time. Fitting then that these inventive strides forward are crafted so beautifully into the DBS.

 

Sidereal time is the timekeeping system used by astronomers to locate the direction of a star in the night sky. A Mean sidereal day is actually around four minutes shorter than a normal day, as the movement of the Earth around the sun means that the time it takes for a star to reach a certain point in the sky is slightly shorter than it is for the sun to reach the same point.

 

This difference in time means that, to combine both a movement and a standard one together is no mean feat of ingenuity. The only answer to such a complicated question was to create a totally new movement, a fusion of two separate balances, running at different times to create one masterpiece. While watches with a double balance and escapement are extremely rare, almost to the point of non-existence, Arnold & Son are reviving the tradition with style.

 

Arnold & Son DBG

The newest movement brought into existence by Arnold & Son is along the same lines. Also using a double balance, the DBG houses two independent movements fused together in one watch. This allows them to both be set separately and gives the watch its initials- Double Balance GMT. Rather than most GMT pieces, that would simply have another hand to indicate additional time zone, the DBG uses an entire half of the watch, giving it an amazing sense of spectacular symmetry.

 

No less impressive is the housing of the case. Creating a pleasing sense of symmetry, the finish of the case is immaculate and perfectly proportioned on each side. Beautiful Côtes de Genève embellishment adds to the richness and detailed quality of the piece, which, whether in steel or rose gold is at once traditionally beautiful and beautifully unique.

 

Both new pieces show the craft behind the brand, built upon one of the richest and most prestigious histories in the watchmaking world. Their modern masterpieces pay a fitting homage to the innovations that brought about some of the greatest leaps in engineering and pay grand tribute to one of the greatest minds horological minds there ever has been and likely ever will be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://luxworldwide.com

 

3 great sporting events not to miss in Europe in 2013

2012 saw some great sporting events in Europe – most notably the UEFA Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, and – of course – the London 2012 Olympics. And 2013 will also be a great year for catching some unique sporting events across the continent. The Six Nations Championship is looming, and the Rugby League World Cup is being hosted by the UK this year, but here we pick out three other events that particularly caught our eye, and tell you how you can enjoy them in luxury.

The Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Grand Prix (23rd-26th May 2013) is where everyone who wants to be seen will be heading. The way to ‘do’ the Monaco Grand Prix is by yacht but if you don’t have your own or know someone who does, you’ll have to make do with an alternative. The modern Columbus Hotel is a popular choice, attracting a slightly younger generation and where most of the Formula 1 drivers tend to stay. If that’s not your bag, the iconic, chic Hotel de Paris (opened in 1863) where you will be very well looked after.

Le Tour de France

From the end of June and for much of July, France will be enjoying the limelight as it stages its centenaryTour de France. Can Bradley Wiggins repeat his performance? We will have to wait until 21st July 2013 when Le Tour finishes on the famous Champs Elysées in Paris. There are many luxury hotels in the capital but a stay at Le Meurice will put you in the thick of the action since it’s only a stone’s throw away from the finish line.

 

 

World Championships of Athletics

Those still revelling in the Olympics might like to head for Moscow for the World Athletics Championships(10th-18th August 2013). The London 2012 medal winners will be looking to cement their positions at the top of their respective disciplines and will no doubt already be looking ahead to Rio. Stay at the Radisson Royal Hotel – it’s scooped three titles at the World Travel Awards, including ‘Russia’s Leading Luxury Hotel’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Paul Johnson

http://www.aluxurytravelblog.com

Gucci Museum in Florence to host Cindy Sherman exhibit

Gucci Museum in Florence will host next year, starting 9th January, untl 9th June an exhibition dedicated to American artist Cindy Sherman: ”early works”. Curated by Francesca Amfitheatrof, the exhibition will feature contemporary artworks of the artist and filmmaker. The revenues from the restaurant of the museum, during the exhibition, will be donated to the city hall for the restoration works of buildings throughout the city.

Cindy Sherman ”Untitled” 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.cpp-luxury.com