Lorre White, The Guru of Luxury

NEW YORK TRAVEL GUIDE

New York tops the list of must-visit places for a good reason. The city is a heady combination of 24-hour commerce, fascinating history and cutting-edge culture. Sunny and hot through to October, the city then turns into a winter wonderland by Christmas. Whenever you go, here’s our guide to a positive trip to the Big Apple.   

Where to Stay

Our pick of New York’s many luxe hotel retreats is the Peninsula. Perfectly situated on Fifth Avenue and 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan, the 112-year-old institution is right in the heart of the city’s best shopping and entertainment district.

It’s within strolling distance of Central Park, the Rockefeller Center and Broadway, but if you’re all walked out, make use of the complimentary Mini Coopers the hotel provides to guests – ideal for a day trip out of Manhattan.

What to Do

Central Park is Manhattan’s iconic green centre, running down the length of the island. Impossible to miss, pick a few areas (like Strawberry Fields) to explore. The High Line is another outdoor must-visit, a public park built on a historic freight rail line it runs above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. Take a stroll and enjoy the leafy, elevated views over the city, or grab a spot on one of the many viewpoints with a coffee and a book.

New York City is probably the most famous shopping destination in the world, with something out there for everyone. A must visit for any beauty fan is Kiehl’s flagship store, found in the East Village it’s on the site of its original apothecary that opened in 1851. The legendary New York department stores should also be on your list – pop along to Saks Fifth Avenue to discover a world of luxury fashion, including brand to trust Gabriela Hearst.

The world-class museums also make the city a haven for the culturally curious. MOMA is our favourite for iconic contemporary art, not to mention the stunning architecture and great people-watching too. Or make a trip to the Met’s Costume Institute to explore its incredible collection of historical fashion.

Where to Eat

NYC’s always-evolving food scene is notoriously innovative. For a quick, yet healthy meal during a busy day head to Eat by Chloe for vegan fast food – the Guac Burger is a favourite of ManRepeller!

For an evening treat, Blue Hill Farm has become renowned for its farm-to-table approach to fine dining. Choose the “Farmer’s Feast” for a six-course tasting menu that is inspired by the week’s harvest from local farms in New York and neighbouring Massachusetts.

What to Wear

For a day of urban exploring, pair a statement tee with a cute miniskirt – a practical outfit that has just the right amount of edge. Throw on a classic biker jacket and choose a stylish backpack for carrying those everyday essentials.

Come evening, opt for paper-bag waist trousers and a sleeveless blouse for a fashion-forward outfit that is sure to turn heads. Balance out this tailored look with a feminine heeled sandal and you’re ready for a night of cocktails and fine dining in the city that never sleeps.

 

 

 

 

 

positiveluxury.com

New $1 million travel package to Calala Private Island in the Caribbean

For $1 million, up to 10 guests (eight adults and two children) can transform the Southern Caribbean island of Calala Island into their own personal paradise for a week—complete with 25 dedicated staff members, ultra-exclusive experiences, and five-star dining.

After being flown via private plane to Nicaragua from any starting city in the United States, guests will then be transferred to the Calala Island in two Bell helicopters. Once they touch down, the 11-acre island will become a no-fly zone, ensuring that guests will be able to let loose in complete privacy. After settling into the island’s four airy villas, guests will kick off a week of pure pleasure—indulging in unlimited fine wine and Dom Perignon, unwinding at the spa, and lounging on the island’s unbroken rim of sugary white sand beaches.

Once guests have gotten their bearings, the island’s staff will be on hand to help facilitate the package’s over-the-top experiences—which range from a jaw-dropping $150,000 treasure hunt that pays homage to the island’s history as a popular pirate stopover, to unlimited scuba diving through pristine reefs and private fireworks shows. Guests will also be treated to one-of-a-kind culinary experiences, which include a fishing trip with the island’s guest sushi chef, caviar tastings, cooking master classes, and their very own cigar blend from world-class cigar maker Joya de Nicaragua.

Calala Island

Calala Island

Calala Island

The opulent week-long experience comes to a close with a 12-course gala dinner and a chance to give back to the community—as a portion of the $1 million trip will go towards building a new school for underprivileged children on the Nicaraguan mainland.

Now, More Than Ever, You Need To Find A Good Travel Agent

Bill Gates, a pretty smart guy, supposedly once said something along the lines, “Now, you can throw away your travel agent’s phone number.” Whether he believed it or not is hard to say. At the time he would have been plugging his new online travel agency (OTA) Expedia. Certainly, Gates wasn’t wrong in forecasting that online sales of travel would become significant. However, things have changed quite a bit in the two decades since he made that proclamation.

 

Doug Gollan

Rachel Hunter tells Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch on why she uses a travel agent during Virtuoso Travel Week being held this week at the Bellagio and Aria Resorts in Las Vegas, Nevada. The conference drew over 5,700 advisors and travel suppliers.

What’s changed?

It’s a long list, but even back in the Nineties, there were airline delays and bankruptcies throwing the proverbial monkey wrench into travel plans. However, the system had a bit more flexibility. American Airlines used to keep extra aircraft at its hubs as back ups in case of mechanical delays. Not anymore. Remember when if one shuttle flight filled up, they would bring out a spare plane so you didn’t have to wait for an extra hour? Airline load factors have increased from the 60% range into the 80s, meaning that flights on popular routes are often sold out for days at a time. Front line employees used to have the ability to grant waivers and favors when you had extra baggage or needed to change a flight. Not so much these days. Hotels and rental car companies were more liberal with their cancellation policies. In many cases, you didn’t have to show your credit card until you showed up. Today, both entities seem to be copying the airlines to make it as onerous as possible for you to change plans. Yes, there are two sides to every story, and they have legitimate reasons for stricter rules, but it is what it is. Good luck trying to get an exception.

 

Doug Gollan

During Virtuoso Travel Week over 2,700 advisors meet with over 1,000 hotel managers making valuable personal connections they use to help get VIP service for their clients or resolve service issues.

At any rate, the travel agents that Gates dogged have done okay. Yes, there was attrition, but as Chris Cahill, CEO of Accor’s luxury hotel brands says, “The crème rises to the top.” Those that are here today seem to be doing very well. It’s estimated there are about 100,000 travel agents in the U.S. today. Here in Las Vegas, there were over 5,700 attendees at Virtuoso Travel Week, including over 2,700 of the group’s travel advisors. Virtuoso is an umbrella for independently owned agencies that generate over $21 billion in travel sales. Not shabby for a group often labeled as dinosaurs. Still, Expedia, Inc., which now includes the likes of Hotwire, Hotels.com, Travelocity and Orbitz has grown both organically and through acquisition to $72 billion.

The agents, or advisors as they call themselves, have very few concerns about online competitors these days. Multiple research surveys show consumer use of retail travel agents – read human beings, has been on the rise for at least five years and is strongest with Millennials, a good sign for the future. Virtuoso's CEO Matthew Upchurch says this younger consumer segment is very comfortable paying for expertise such as personal trainers, and view agents as folks who can help them improve the quality of their travel experiences. Booking travel isn't as easy as Gates wanted you to think and as many of us have found out. Google’s own research shows it takes 32 visits to 10 different websites to book a single airline ticket. Add to that the OTA's spotty record of customer service.

Doug Gollan

Travel advisors attending Virtuoso Travel Week get advance previews of new travel products. Here executives from U by Uniworld, a new river cruise line targeting Millennials explain its product for advisors.

You might read this and say so what? I don’t use a travel agent, and am happy I am doing it myself. Well, you might want to reconsider. While agents are happy with their growing business and profits, a soon to be released survey of agents who sell luxury travel by Travel Market Report, a daily e-newsletter and website for agents, shows agents aren't concerned about their future, but 73% are concerned that suppliers will be able to maintain service standards as the market expands.

Interestingly, Upchurch says a key reason to use agents is advocacy. In other words, when you use a travel agent, you have somebody who has relationships decision makers at the airlines, hotels, cruises lines and car rental companies you will be traveling with. When something goes sideways, you have somebody to help you out who has more clout than you do.

Doug Gollan

Travel advisors and suppliers party on the opening night of Virtuoso Travel Week at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. This year's event set a record for attendance.

During recent IT meltdowns by Delta Air Lines and British Airways, there were numerous stories about how agents saved the day for their clients getting them routed where they needed to go, and then working to get their customers refunds and credits. At the same time they were rebooking car rentals, calling their friends in the sales department at the hotel to get the penalty for showing up a day late waived, and in some cases getting customers where they were going early. Good agents, sensing trouble and monitoring for disruptions often proactively get you rerouted away from storms and strikes by French air controllers.

Maybe you think you’ll wait until things go badly or you run into problems before you will consider a travel agent. When I asked numerous advisors here at Travel Week what they do to attract new customers, most of what I heard is that they currently have as many customers as they can handle. Some aren’t taking new customers. There is only so much time in the day and agents can’t spread themselves too thin and keep customers happy. Good service takes time. In other cases, agents told me they are trying to cull their least profitable clients, pushing them to junior agents they are trying to train. Some agencies are proactively trying to recruit and train new agents to handle increased demand.

Travel agent is becoming a popular job for both Millennials and folks seeking more fulfilling second careers. At the conference, I met journalists, engineers, architects, publicists, lawyers, ex-hoteliers and cruise line executives, even media salespeople, all who have become advisors. Good agents can earn six figures within three years. Some earn much more than that. What’s more, many agencies provide travel allowances, and with agents again being recognized as a powerful distribution channel for suppliers, agents often get highly discounted rates.

Hotels typically pay agencies 10 percent commission while tour operators and cruise lines might pay 12 to 20 percent to retail agents. For providers, it’s cheaper than the OTAs where the cost of sale can reach above 30%. For the agents, they make good money and see the world. They keep their own hours, although in many ways are on duty 24/7. They’re not trudging to a cube every day waiting to see if they are going to get axed in the next round of cost cutting. About 40% of U.S. travel agents are thought to be independent contractors.

If you have a bad flight on Airline X or stay at Hotel Z when you take your business elsewhere, there is no real impact to the supplier. Agents, on the other hand, rely on keeping their profitable clients happy, so the good ones take the time to know you, what you like and what you don’t. That means if you use an agent you are less likely to find yourself in a hotel or on a cruise ship that doesn’t fit your personal tastes. That’s a big plus for suppliers as well. Many complaints you read on review sites such as Trip Advisor are less about the hotel and more about that the hotel wasn’t right for that guest. When there is a service let down, agents who provide a constant flow of revenue, have more clout getting it fixed than you do on your own. In the Travel Market Report research agents said getting you a better room or a room with a better view often impacts which hotel they will book you into when all things are equal. That's much harder if not impossible to accomplish when you book online.

As a point of interest, Gates, Jobs and Zuckerberg should get a large amount of credit for creating the technology platforms today’s agents use to be successful. Out on the road inspecting new hotels and resorts, they use their smartphones to share with customers photos of places they will want to go via social media and text message. From those same phones, they can change your reservations. No longer are they tethered to a desktop computer with a blinking green screen.

Now OTAs and others are yapping about artificial intelligence. Upchurch, speaking at a general session, said he believes AI will actually be a boost to agents helping them automate administrative tasks that take up time. That would be a good thing, meaning that talented agents can handle more clients without dropping service levels.

Having a good agent, in my opinion, is going to be even more important. Travel and particularly luxury travel is in a big growth spurt. Suppliers are expanding fast with new hotels, ships and experiences. But, what often separates a great trip from average or bad one isn’t the marble or hand stitched English leather. It’s the service provided by the people, and with rapid expansion, it will be more and more likely that there will be lapses, even in the luxury segment.

“As suppliers remove human touch points, travel agents become more important …being a Virtuoso is an art, a human act,” Upchurch says. And while agents are more mobile and often converse with clients via text message, a new trend is storefront agencies that are integrated with barristers, bars and spas. The modern city offices invite clients to come in and relax, meet an advisor and kick around ideas about trips. It’s a bit ironic as online travel suppliers are rolling about more virtual assistants, so you think you are messaging with a real person until you ask something that the BOT hasn’t been trained on.

Upchurch says his members, largely small and medium sized businesses, focus on the personal relationships they have with clients. On the other hand, he says big publicly traded companies largely sit around the table in meeting rooms trying to figure out ways to reduce head count. One only has to go to the airport today where kiosks have largely replaced airline check-in agents and the lines have only gotten longer to see he is right.

Either way now would be a good time to find a good travel agent. The best way is probably to get a reference from a friend who has a good one, but Virtuoso and other groups such as Affluent Traveler Collection, Ensemble, Signature, Travel Leaders, Travelsavers and Traveller Made each have agent finders on their website where you can search by geography, specializations and other criteria. The trade association for agents, The American Society of Travel Agents, has long used the tagline, “Without a travel agent, you’re on your own.” Now, and in the future, it couldn’t be truer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doug Gollan

Forbes

'Business of Luxury 101' series in Monaco Life (1st in the series)

The Business of Luxury 101: Sheep and Eagles

By columnist Lorre White -

July 27, 2017

http://www.monacolife.net/?p=19732   Monaco Life - Monaco's #1 English Speaking News Of #Monaco

Many businesses in Monaco focus on the luxury sector.

Luxury marketing is very different then mass marketing taught at 99% of the universities. And because it is so different than that of general businesses, Luxury actually has its own (L)MBA. It is almost the antithesis of mass marketing. In fact, there’s no faster way to make a luxury company go bankrupt then to apply mass marketing. For this reason Monaco Life will host a series of articles by International Luxury Market expert Lorre White, (owner of White Light Consulting), called The Business of Luxury 101 Series.

Lorre White’s clients include global elite brands, that need to reach the world’s wealthiest consumers due to the price point of their product or service; many private jet, yacht, private banking, international events, luxury travel, luxury media, etc.

This first article in the series is titled Sheep and Eagles, The 95-5% rule of Luxury Marketing.

The world is made up of two kinds of people: sheep and eagles. The two can co-exist, as neither is a predator to the other.

Ninety-five percent of the population falls into the sheep category. They are the backbone of the population. Five percent of people fall into the eagle category. That is why eagles are on the endangered list.

It is not a question of good and bad, just a fact of personality with which they were born.

Taking count …
Sheep live in large groups, see things from the ground, make up the majority of the work force and so do not differ much from each other outside of physical appearance.

Sheep have a universal quality to them. There are good sheep and bad sheep just like eagles.

Eagles live high up on the cliffs, do not follow the masses, soar free and see things from an aerial view and are very independent.

There cannot be many eagles as they do not live in crowded quarters. They do not hunt sheep, but they are not really interested in them either.

But the sheep like to watch the eagles soar.

Eagles are people such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates who change the world with their inventions; Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg creating new social media; Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffet who gives $54 billion to charity; and political and business leaders such as Michael Bloomberg and Larry Ellison. Eagles can even be the Adolf Hitlers and Joseph Stalins of the world too, as the species is not what makes them good or bad – that is their choice.

Indeed, eagles are the ones you read about in history books. They are the artists, fashion designers, inventors, architects, entertainers, presidents and scientists who make a mark on the world that is so big that it lingers long after they have passed this earthly sphere.

Sheep cannot understand the mind and soul of an eagle and an eagle cannot live in the confines of mediocrity. It’s not that sheep lack talent or intelligence. It’s that they do not have the personality to reach the extremes of their potential. Sheep are dreamers, but are not willing to make the ultimate sacrifices necessary to truly succeed on a global level and an eagle can only take those risks, wise or not, as the life of a sheep is worse than death to them. Both are as the universe designed them to be, and both are equally important to the future of the world.

In business, as in daily life, it is important to realise with whom you are dealing. Expect a sheep to act like a sheep and an eagle to act like an eagle and you will not be disappointed. But never expect them to act the same.

The Ultra-High-Net-Worth (UHNW) group has a large concentration of eagles. This is important to remember when implementing marketing strategy. This is why mass marketing is unsuccessful in reaching this demographic.

Those factors that sway the masses – sheep – are inconsequential to the UHNW group.

In the luxury sector, marketing is much more crucial.

Luxury startups need substantially larger marketing budgets than mass-market brands.

A luxury brand will never be higher than where they launch. That takes more initial capital to enter the luxury market.

It’s harder to break into the luxury sector than it is the mass market. Everything is more expensive, from the talent to accomplish it, to the media sources that reach this niche.

The luxury market is far less forgiving than the mass market that allows failed products relaunch as “new and improved” and slowly work their way toward the top of the mass sector.

… and taking flight
When I see business plans for startup luxury companies, they almost always have insufficient marketing budgets, because the person who wrote their business plan was used to working with mass-market companies.

The attitude “I will spend money on marketing after I have made money”, just will not fly with the eagles.

My experience has shown me that most people perceive themselves as eagles.

Being able to correctly evaluate the difference will not only assist in your luxury marketing needs, but will also make you more effective in developing your company’s talent. Sheep and eagles seek different things, so they must be managed differently to get the most from them. Sheep need to take in change slowly. Their initial gut response tends to be resistance if too much is given to them too quickly. Eagles immediately take to it and need to feel that you keep up with them.

In families, eagles birth sheep and sheep give birth to eagle personalities. That is why great wealth is often created in one generation and lost by the next two. The difference in personalities often makes for family riffs. It’s important that parents recognise in which category their kids are. Eagles born to sheep explains why a person from the slums can become a billionaire.

Cases in point: Roman Abramovich and Mohed Altrad, who is said to have survived on one meal a day when he moved to France, as well as Kenny Troutt, Starbucks’ Howard Schultz or Oprah Winfrey, who was born into poverty and became the first African American television correspondent in Nashville, TN, breaking not only class barriers but race too.

John Paul DeJoria, the man behind a hair-care empire and Patron Tequila, once lived in his car, and the list goes on.

There are more mass-market products sold than luxury products. There is space for both because they have a different audience. “Premium” products are the best of the mass markets.

To reach the UHNW audience, your brand needs to be an eagle, not a sheep. If you are not willing to pay for quality in luxury marketing and branding, do not expect others to be willing to pay the premium for your products and services. A luxury brand, like a reputation, takes years to build and seconds to destroy. You are either luxury or you are not. You are either an eagle or you are a sheep.

Lorre White is an international luxury market expert and luxury media personality “The Luxury Guru”, Owner of White Light Consulting, Luxury blog www.LuxGuru.Typepad.com

Article first published July 26, 2017.

 

For Luxury Travel, Participatory Experience Is the New Black

Luxury travel isn’t what it used to be—and has evolved into a richer definition of how to “be” while traveling. A new study by travel industry giant Sabre Hospitality Solutions underscores the new landscape, as well as the opportunities, for travel and hospitality brands.

Sabre’s latest report, “The Future of Luxury Travel,” underscores the fact that travelers’ ideas of luxury are changing “as the world’s ideas of wealth and status change.”

Increasingly, the travel technology software provider said, high-end travelers “choose subtle indulgence over flashy logos and conspicuous consumption. And they’re gravitating toward travel that enables them to live out their personal values and fulfill their dreams through exclusive experiences.”

Thus, for example, “luxury travel” now might mean flying by helicopter to a remote desert peak for an exclusive yoga class or undergoing specialized training to be able to explore the wreck of the Titanic. Experience, clearly, is the new black.

“The evolution of high-end travel is creating a marketplace where ‘luxury’ is defined by the most exclusive, unique experiences that reside at the intersection of affluence and access,” Sarah Kennedy Ellis, vice president of global marketing and digital experience at Sabre, stated in a press release. “We see guests moving beyond traditional ideas of status and embracing highly bespoke travel opportunities that focus more on the individual traveler’s personality and values and less about expressing opulence.”

In this changing market, for example, luxury travelers increasingly identify themselves as “post-status,” choosing subtle indulgence over prominent logos and showy opulence—contrasting with the ostentatiousness of some traditional luxury.

Also, new luxury travel consumers want to be able to express their values through their travel. That might include eating ice cream made from fruit that otherwise would have been classified as waste and sent to a landfill, for instance.

This trend should have seen such experiences as Carnival’s Fathom cruise line, announced in 2015 as a new way for cruise-goers to travel with purpose, social impact and awareness, succeed.

However, Carnival announced in November that the Fathom standalone social impact cruise brand was being discontinued but confirmed that it would continue as a participatory travel experience across its fleet because “Fathom is evolving into a special shore experience for all brands in different parts of the world.”

Sabre isn’t the only travel-tracker to identify this trend, as a thirst for authentic and unique experiences also applies to retail and other sectors.

As Travel Market Report noted last year,

“More and more travelers are demanding an “authentic” travel experience, a trend that experts say plays into the hands of experienced, high-touch travel agents who can help consumers sift through the vast array of opportunities the world offers.”

According to a recent Expedia survey, 76% of baby boomers rate experiencing authentic local culture as “the most important” aspect of their decision making, while 62% of Generation X consumers rate local culture most important.

Just as the new Airbnb Trips platform has started encouraging its hosts to expand their role (and make more money) by leveraging their expertise to become tour guides and instructors dubbed “experience hosts” (offering hands-on experiencesfrom learning millinery in London to making your own perfume in Prague), the trend has influenced the more traditional travel industry.

Tour guide operators such as New York City’s Authentic Italy to expand its range of experiences and get more hands-on and bespoke than ever before, as Travel Market Report noted:

“Authentic Italy trips include experiences like meeting the Urbani family, famous for exporting truffles worldwide. Authentic Italy guests can follow Urbani’s truffle dogs on hunts in the Umbrian countryside, attend a hands-on cooking class at Urbani’s Truffle Academy in Scheggino, dine at local farmhouses, and visit wineries where a sommelier guides them through the best wines to pair with white and black truffles.”

 

 

 

 

http://www.brandchannel.com

Utopia, a 1.1 Billion Dollar Residential Cruise Ship and Luxury Hotel. Top Residences priced at $44 million

Until now, the ship The World has been the world’s largest and most expensive residential cruise ship. However, there is a new ship under construction, being built in Europe, called Utopia. With an estimated value of $1.1 billion, Utopia is a revolutionary vessel with both private high-end residences and a luxury hotel.

Utopia’s private Residents’ Club will be one of the most exclusive social clubs in the world with members from Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East and Africa.  In the Residents’ Club members can dine, drink, lounge on the sundeck, swim and enjoy concierge services.  For those who love golf, Utopia will have a golf club that books members both onboard the ship’s course and at the best golf courses around the world.

David Robb, the Harvard and Yale educated founder behind Utopia explained, “Our ocean liner will visit exotic ports and celebrate at the world’s most exclusive events.” Utopia will carry her residents to events such as the Olympics, Monte Carlo Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival, Melbourne Cup, Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, and to ports that many cruise liners are not authorized to visit. Most cruise ships only stay in port for up to a few days, however, Utopia will stay in port up to weeks at a time so guests and owner’s may enjoy more time experiencing the beautiful locations.

“Our residents will also enjoy privileged access to some of the world’s greatest art and cultural events and prestigious galas and sporting events. We are creating a floating community where residents feel pampered, rested, well traveled and inspired by this extraordinary luxury travel experience. There is also top tier education for families, advanced anti-aging and preventative medicine, philanthropy gathering, and philanthropic outings to give back abroad,’’ said Robb in a statement.

Utopia is estimated to set sail in 2020 with most of the private residences sold prior to that time. The residences range from $4.4 million to $44 million and have revolutionized onboard ship living. With every amenity available on a yacht and the comforts of a home, these residences are customizable as well. The Utopia team has developed and patented lots of new systems such a laser stabilizers, allowing it to feel more like a small yacht, to environmental factors to recycle water used to clean the ship to protect the ocean.

 For additional information : http://www.utopiaresidences.com/residences/ 

Fun, Food and Fitness on the French Riviera. Yoga with a Michelin Star Chef.

All-inclusive Luxury Yoga Villa Experience on French Riviera with a Michelin Star chef

 

By Lorre White, international luxury market expert and luxury media personality “The Luxury Guru”, Owner of White Light Consulting

(Food, Travel and Fitness)  Appeared in MonacoLife.net June 25, 2017

Ben Sears at Lux Yoga Villa

LuxYoga is featuring a new a new Michelin star chef this summer. Born on a farm in Finland, Chef Jouni, received the great honor of a French Michelin star in 2006.  A true renaissance man, he is as comfortable hunting and fishing as he is preparing a multi-course tasting for the most selective food critics. Jouni makes delicious food that honors the LuxYoga farm-to-table ethos of healthy meets yummy and a good natured guy to be around.

Chef Jouni at Lux Yoga Villa

Breakfast is a healthy buffet of light and nutritious items that allows students to be ready for the morning class: green smoothie, chia seed pudding, eggs and local pastries for those who wish to indulge.  Lunch is Provencal buffet feast that strikes the perfect balance between healthy and sumptuous.  Dinner, after our hors d’oeuvres, is a three course, plated meal with many of our trademark specialties prepared with final table-side touches. All dietary requirements are noted in advance as our chefs shop locally and daily. Meals are taken together at a communal table. Each evening is an incredible, casual chic, classic Rivera dinner party at a table overlooking the entire coastline while the sun sets. Our guests simply enjoy beautiful cuisine, local wines and each other. As each week goes on, the dinners become more convivial as common ground increases. Some like to stay up a bit and others put a premium on sleep. This is really the experience of being a guest at a fine home.   

The LUX Villa is a 3-level 10,000 square foot private luxury home outfitted to support the services of a boutique hotel. Views over the foothills of Provence stretch from the Bay of Nice to the Harbor of Cannes and beyond. They provide airport transfers from Nice, which is a half-hour ride. The master suite is on a private floor with two terraces, and a huge soaking tub. Floor to ceiling shutters open with the touch of a bedside button. On the main bedroom floor, we have two one-room suites, one with a Provencal theme and one with a Japanese theme. All of the furniture and artwork in the villa is from a personal family collection. Many pieces are antique and each room is unique. The price is all inclusive (except massages and spa treatments) and the price is dependent on which room you book.

LuxYoga is owned by yogi Ben Sears, who is in France running retreats five months out of the year, then another 3 months on the road teaching yoga seminars around the world, and the remaining 4  spent in SoHo, NYC.  Ben has taught for over a dozen years and studied primarily with Ana Forrest, the Bikram Method, Dharma Mittra, Katonah Yoga, as well as forays into personal training, Ayurveda, anatomy and Thai massage

Anyone that has followed my luxury media work as ‘The Luxury Guru’, even for a short period of time, knows that I love the south of France. This is certainly not unique, as there is probably no place on earth that attracts the world’s wealthiest every summer like the Cote d’Azure. The increasable amount of natural beauty and the high quality of lifestyle have long lured the jet set crowd.  LuxYoga students come from all over the world; some because they are seeking out the world class yoga teachers, others because they are looking at the South of France as a destination.

New York City established itself as the global centers for superior quality yoga teachers in the west. Visitors to NYC are always requesting to book lessons with yoga teachers with an international following. So when I heard of LuxYoga, owned and operated by a NYC yoga instructor with great credentials, located in a villa in the south of France overlooking the Mediterranean, and French quality meals (no twigs and barks like some yoga retreats) it more than sparked my interest.

LuxYoga’s philosophy is rooted in yoga as therapy for the body and for the mind via the body. Our Vinyasa practice retains the crucial element of stillness often missing in typical flow classes. Our Hot Yoga retreats break down all of the nuances of the Bikram method, and our Movement and Vinyasa retreats blend a traditionally oriented yoga practice with dance and martial arts inspired classes that build coordination, range of motion and are just a lot of fun. On a retreat, 4 days are yoga immersion days and 2 days offer a morning class and afternoon excursion to local spots.

The practice of yoga has been adopted on a global scale by the wealthier demographics. I love yoga and even went through teacher training myself in NYC just to get a more comprehensive understanding of the practice. Nothing has contributed more to my personal health and life balance, because it addresses all aspects of the individual. The one complaint that I hear year after year by the Ultra High Net Worth is that there has been a profound void of quality yoga in the south of France and indeed in France in general. However in the last two years this has really begun to change. Many of my UHNW followers, that have homes along the Riviera, or stay in 5 star hotels for 2 months each summer, or live off their super yachts, have traveled with yoga instructors, because they just can’t go all summer void of a regular practice. Yoga is a lifestyle.

Traditionally, yoga was restricted to particular “higher” castes in India, so it’s bit paradoxical that for a time it was a fringe activity in the West. Everyone, no matter how much or how little they have, everyone needs to learn to be internally quiet in order to be deeply fulfilled. An intelligent yoga practice gives people with big time lives a way to process their stresses. People are busy today and may have only a few hours a week to invest in their physical health, so it makes sense to choose yoga and thusly to receive profound psychological benefits while getting a functional and healing workout.

LuxYoga has some very respected guest yoga instructors. One of those is a personal favorite of mine, Isaac Pena (based in NY) that I took my yoga teacher training from. Here is what Isaac had to say about LuxYoga. “Throughout the years I’ve gotten many invites around the world to do workshops and retreats. For years I liked staying anchored to New York. My idea was, eventually everyone comes here, I’ll just wait. Anyway, Ben Sears started taking my class several years ago and he had such an intelligent and warm energy. Eventually he asked me if I would come on board to LUX, and at that point in our friendship I was ready to support him in just about any endeavor. We have become like brothers and I love and look forward to my annual visits to the Villa.”

Isaac Pena

When I asked Ben, what inspired him to create this lovely combination of a luxury yoga retreat? He replied, “I saw a total void in both the spa world and the yoga world. People have limited time and I feel that they deserve the opportunity to have both a memorable vacation and a transformative yoga immersion in one place, in one week. Yoga retreats often lack the luxury vacation element, despite their best efforts, and spas and hotels are impersonal and the programs lack focus. A guest might have a great week taking twenty different classes but ultimately ends up back home with no direction. I wanted to create an experience where part of the learning is cultural in that the experience itself imparts the importance of creating beautiful moments in the midst of a healthy life. And from the yoga side, I believe too deeply in the practice to offer some kind of watered-down, waste of time practice, so the LuxYoga experience also honors the dedication and precision requisite to an effective yoga practice. LUXYOGA is a great conduit to a serious practice for people who also want a luxury vacation experience, and it’s an eye-opener for people who are not familiar with luxury services but come to us for the yoga curriculum.”

LuxYoga Villa is great for individuals, couples, or to rent out entirely for a family, friends or even a small corporate getaway.  For more information on the all-inclusive yoga immersion retreat, in the south of France, in a luxury villa, and gourmet meals worthy of my jet set followers:  http://www.luxyoga.com/

 

 

UPCOMING RETREATS

June 20 - 26: Private Retreat (LUX Bespoke)

July 1 - 7, 2017: Effort to Grace in Hot Yoga 

with Tatiana Depillo, Tricia Donegan & Benjamin Sears

- sold out

July 11 - 17, 2017: Hatha-Vinyasa Alchemy

with Isaac Peña & Benjamin Sears

- sold out

July 21 -  27, 2017: Practice Grace, Receive Gratitude –

Vinyasa Yoga without the Rush

with Erica Mather & Benjamin Sears

- limited spaces available 

August 1 - 7, 2017: Vinyasa Yoga & Mindful Movement

with Tatiana DePillo,  Benjamin Sears & special guest Jaya Ramaprasad

- limited spaces available 

August 11 - 15: Private Retreat (LUX Bespoke)

December 27 - January 2, 2018: New Year's at the Villa

• details to be released soon

 

Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, emerges through a recent renovation as a true global flagship of the brand

Located in a heritage building on the prestigious Rue de la Paix, Park Hyatt Paris-Vendômeis steps from Place Vendôme, Opéra Garnier, and the luxury shopping destination of Rue St Honore. Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme is a member of the exclusive Palace distinction as designated by the French Ministry of Tourism.

The hotel was originally designed by acclaimed international designer Ed Tuttle, featuring a striking blend of sophisticated contemporary architecture and classic design with refined materials and elegant furnishings. Earlier this year, the hotel embarked on an extensive renovation of all its rooms and suites. While maintaining the deep residential feel of a Parisian apartment, the renovation, which is overseen by Ed Tuttle, focuses on all furnishings making rooms and suites brighter, yet maintaining the existing color palette. Besides being brighter and fresher, rooms are also more quiet, with brand new, highly sound-proof doors. The golden stucco finishes on the walls and window frames have been carefully restored. Overall, the best quality materials and the highest quality finishes have been utilized.

The enhanced airy feel has been achieved not only through lighting but also through a large floor to ceiling mirror covering an entire wall of the room, a long black solid mirror desk and the white high-thread bed linen (previously the linen was beige). Through the renovation, comfort is enhanced  through an update of  technology – a more silent air-conditioning with full-option individual control, a new UHD Tv and panels to centrally control lighting and curtains / shades, achieving a complete black-out for comfort at night. Beds are incredibly comfortable, allowing a most restful sleeping experience.

The large Spa-like bathrooms have also undergone renovations. With walls covered in limestone the now brighter bathrooms include a deep-soaking tub, rain shower, heated floors, and exclusive toiletries designed by acclaimed perfumer Blaise Mautin. There is also a generous wardrobe space which adds to the overall residential feel of the rooms and suites.

The renovation also included the reception area, La Cheminée – the lobby area which resembles a comfortable living-room (with a working fireplace) and the Les Orchidées restaurant. The aim was to make the spaces brighter and enhance the comfort feel. Les Orchidées is the breakfast venue of the hotel but it also serves lunch and dinner. Mention should be made that the open buffet breakfast is probably the best among all other Palace hotels in Paris. La Terasse, the indoor courtyard of the hotel, is another successful venue of the hotel, its vibrant atmosphere attracting mainly Parisian patrons.

The renovation of the Le Bar, a hidden gem of the hotel, has achieved a more sophisticated and cozy feel. Le Bar at Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme also has an extensive selection of rare teas and a fully stocked cigar cellar with more than 40 cigar types made from 95% Cuban leaf.

The gastronomic restaurant of the hotel, Pur’ which is helmed by renowned chef Jean-François Rouquette has recently been awarded its first Michelin star. The restaurant which serves innovative French cuisine features a warm, inviting atmosphere, set in a rotunda with mahogany walls adorned with ink sketches by acclaimed artist Viswanadhan. Pur’ features a 6 m wine wall that serves as the hotel’s wine cellar, as well as a cigar and cheese cabinet.

But above its exceptional product, Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme boasts one of the highest service standard among all the luxury Palace hotels in Paris. Whether the F&B outlets, the Spa, the Concierge, the Reception or Housekeeping, service is outstanding – intuitive, attentive, personalized and warm with a genuine passion to serve. Staff go out of their way to fulfill any requirement and wish of the guests.

I look forward to returning to the hotel to experience the renovated suites, Spa and Pur Restaurant.

More photos and a video can be found here.

Oliver Petcu in Paris

Park Hyatt Vendome Paris – renovated room

 

 

 

cpp-luxury.com

New York Metro Area Had Most Ultra-Wealthy Residents in 2016

New York metro area had the the largest number of ultra wealthy population in 2016, according to Wealth-X.

TETRA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES

The New York metropolitan area remains the top magnet for the world’s ultra rich, attracting 8,350 residents with a net worth of at least $30 million in 2016, according to a Wealth-X report released Tuesday.

Compared with 2015, the ultra-high-net-worth individuals residing primarily in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania grew 9.6%, according to the World Ultra Wealth Report 2017 by Wealth-X, a global wealth information and insight business provider.

 

Hong Kong and Tokyo remained the second and third most popular global cities for the ultra rich; London and Paris ranked fifth and sixth.  

London was the only top-10 city to register a decline in its ultra wealthy population, as wealth levels took a hit from currency  weakness and Brexit related concerns. weakness and Brexit-related concerns. 

Worldwide, the ultra-rich population grew by 3.5% to 226,450 in 2016, representing a strong rebound from last year’s sharp fall of 7.1%.

However, there were significant regional fluctuations, with North America and Asia Pacific recording a rise in the number of the ultra rich and their overall fortunes, while the rest of the world saw a decrease in wealth creation.

TOP 10 UHNW Countries  

Note: Hong Kong, a special region of China, is analyzed separately Source: Wealth-X

Other major findings in the report include:

• The combined wealth of the ultra rich, which comprises just 0.003% of the global adult population, increased 1.5% year-over-year to $27 trillion.
• Almost half of the global ultra wealthy population (108,610) had a net worth of between $30 million and $50 million.
• The number of billionaires declined 3.1% to 2,397; their combined net wealth dropped 3.1% to $7,400 billions.
• Latin America and the Caribbean suffered double-digit falls in its ultra wealthy collective wealth, with the population decreasing 3.4% to 6,850.
• Liquid assets, primarily cash, owned by the ultra wealthy stood at $9.6 trillion in 2016, accounting for the largest share (35.4%) of their holdings.

 

U.S. Dominate the top 10 cities

The strong U.S. dollar was a major factor in lifting North America as the top destination for the ultra-high-net-worth individuals. There were 81,700 people with a net worth of $30 million or more there in 2016, a 5.1% increase from a year ago. Their combined fortune, $9.633 billion, accounted for 35.6% of global wealth.

The region’s dominance is driven by the U.S., with 73,110 ultra wealthy people in 2016, rising 6.7% year-over-year. Canada saw a decline in the number of ultra wealthy individuals (-1.5%) and their combined wealth (-2.4%), hampered by a weaker Canadian dollar and the still subdued trend in global oil prices, according to the report.

U.S. cities made up half of the 30 leading cities with the highest ultra rich population and accounted for five of the top 10. In addition to New York, metro areas around Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Dallas also squeezed in the top 10.

Top 10 UHNW Cities

Source: Wealth-X

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 FANG BLOCK

http://www.mansionglobal.com

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, TOKYO INVITES GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY WITH THE KRUG SUITE

Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo has partnered with Krug Champagnes, one of the world’s most prestigious Champagne houses, to create the exclusive Krug Suite by Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo experience. Available until December 29, the exceptional offer welcomes two guests for a one-night stay in the hotel’s opulent Presidential Suite and includes a six-course dinner created by Executive Chef Andrea Ferrero served among luxurious Krug-inspired decor.

The lavish six-course menu features Chef Ferrero’s renowned seasonal cuisine. Culinary highlights include: iced cauliflower fondant with caviar and Wagyu beef sushi with dry white truffle as hors d’oeuvres; lamb loin with roasted root vegetables with five spice as a main course; and for dessert, Iwate farm cream ice-cream followed by a sublime chocolate and meringue sphere with caramelized bananas. The dinner includes a perfect pairing of four premium Krug Champagnes, including Krug Grande Cuvée, Krug Clos Du Mesnil, Krug Vintage 2002 and Krug Rose.

To add to the experience, the Presidential Suite is transformed with Krug-inspired art, creative floral arrangements, classic leather-bound books, and candelabras. Custom-designed Krug ‘Joseph’ Champagne flutes, which are named after the house’s founder and specially created to enhance every aspect of the Krug connoisseur experience, are offered alongside Krug bar accoutrements and specially-selected music to complete experience.

The offer is capped with a delicious in-suite Krug Champagne breakfast and complimentary access to the hotel’s exclusive Horizon Club Lounge.

At JPY1.2M (about USD10,727), the package is perfect for a luxurious special occasion with a loved one. Guests can expand the offer to a private dining experience for more than two guests for JPY60,000 (about USD536) per additional guest. The offer is available for a maximum of eight guests.

For reservations, please email the hotel at: [email protected].