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

'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

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

 

Guide lists of all the 'must-have services' for the newly super rich

The little black book for billionaires lists all the mad must-have services for the super rich, from a cigar adviser to a 'wellness concierge' 

There's never been a trickier time to be one of the stinking rich. Take poor old Johnny Depp. 

Last week, legal papers lodged by his former management company revealed he got through a staggering £21 million in the past year alone – including £24,000 a month on wine, £159,000 a month on private planes and £238,600 a month maintaining his staff of 40. 

But then today’s super-rich need far more help than a chauffeur and a butler or two. This is where Spear’s can help. 

The magazine and research company publishes a directory of 500 advisers, consultants, agents and managers for Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) – and this year’s entries are so eclectic they’ll stretch your credulity, as well as your wallet. Just don’t query what they cost. 

As they say, if you need to ask you can’t afford it. Here’s our pick of the most peculiar...

COUNSELLOR TO HELP KIDS COPE WITH CASH

 

A counsellor can help steer the children of UHNWIs through the special problems that come from having way too much money

With kind eyes and a gentle smile, Mark Boyden, a psychotherapist and executive coach, is the go-to man to ensure the billionaire’s family maintains an emotional and mental even keel.

As well as dealing with issues that affect us all, such as stress, addiction and anxiety, Boyden and his team can also help steer the children of UHNWIs through the special problems that come from having way too much money, and help the billionaire deal with personal problems that arise in the ‘family offices’ – the term for businesses established by UHNWIs to manage the wealth of themselves and their dependents. Money, it seems, buys you a better class of unhappiness. 

BOOKIE FOR BILLIONAIRES

There’s no need for billionaires to slum it in the local bookmaker’s. Instead, many UHNWIs head to the bookie Fitzdares, established and run by the magnificently named Balthazar Fabricius, and backed by Zac and Ben Goldsmith. 

Located in a Mayfair townhouse, punters – who have to be proposed and seconded for membership – gamble many thousands of pounds on all manner of events, and can even bet on private backgammon tournaments at exclusive London clubs. 

Fabricius won’t forget his biggest ever loss, when a client bet £50,000 at 10-1 on a no-score draw in a football match between Watford and Crystal Palace. Although that hurt, Fabricius is still very much in business.

YOUR SUPERYACHT SUPERVISOR

 

A fancy superyacht is the ultimate billionaire’s status symbol - but they're not easy to run

It’s all very well to have bought your superyacht, but you have to keep the thing afloat. With estimated running costs of £3 million to £5 million per year, the ultimate billionaire’s status symbol is a business operation in itself. 

And, like any business, the superyacht needs a management team. The best man to handle everything from hiring a crew to supervising a refit is undoubtedly Jonathan Beckett, the eminence grise of the superyacht world, who has been afloat since 1975. 

‘When someone says, “jump” then you jump,’ he says, displaying a humility that makes him such a firm favourite with his well-keeled clients.

THE NUCLEAR BUNKER BROKER

People are worried about Doomsday once again, and no more so than the uber-minted. And what better response than burrowing underground – or buying up a luxuriously-converted nuclear bunker or rocket silo in which to see out Armageddon? This is where Edward Peden & Dianna Ricke-Peden, bunker agents supreme, come in handy. With properties such as the Atlas E Missile Site in Kansas on sale for $3.2 million, they may ensure your family and your wealth survive a Trump-inspired nuclear conflagration. Problem is, will there be anything left to spend your money on when it’s all over? 

THE CIGAR CONSULTANT

 

Cigar consultants advise plutocrats how to burn through their money

DIRK Seyfried, manager of the exclusive James J. Fox Cigar Merchants on St James’s Street in London, holds the unusual qualification of being a Master of Havana Cigars. There is nobody better qualified in Britain to advise plutocrats how to burn through their money, especially with boxes of cigars costing hundreds of pounds.

Although Seyfried is happy catering to the needs of the UHNWIs, he finds that cigars are classless. ‘You can find a huge selection of people from all over the world and all types of background, happily enjoying the moment with fellow cigar smokers,’ he reassures us.

THE WELLNESS CONCIERGE 

'Wellness concierges' prepare an entire routine

UHNWIs don’t have personal trainers any more. That’s so 2016. 

No, what they have are ‘wellness concierges’, such as Simon Blackford of Ellidore Lifestyle, who will prepare an entire routine of work-outs, massages, yoga, nutrition, detoxes – and a car to take you from appointment to appointment with the most high-end of practitioners. 

Even the busiest of billionaires now has no excuse for not having a body beautiful. 

 

 

PHILANTHROPY ADVISER

When it comes to describing his approach to advising UHNWIs on how to dispose of their riches, David Carrington is fond of quoting Aristotle: ‘To give away money is an easy matter and in any man’s power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large, and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man’s power nor an easy matter.’

Carrington hopes to promote wise spending, enabling his clients to have ‘helped someone do something very special’.

A bit worthy perhaps, but really, what’s not to like? Far better to help the deserving than spend it all on superyacht fuel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Guy Walters

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

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Carlo Petrini: A man of Action and Patience; his fight to end the standardization of taste.

 

Originator of the international Slow Food movement, Carlo Petrini talks about his fight to end the standardization of taste, foster culinary diversity and protect biodiversity. In his work he draws from French luminaries such as Brillat-Savarin, Edgar Morin and Pierre Rabhi.

 

CARLO PETRINI

Carlo Petrini is an Italian journalist, writer and activist. He has been campaigning for a sustainable food system and promoting eco-gastronomy since the 1980s. Since 1989, he has been president of the Slow Food organization and brought it to the global stage.

4 QUESTIONS WITH CARLO PETRINI, PRESIDENT OF THE SLOW FOOD ORGANIZATION

Cooking has been talked about a lot lately, and poorly, according to you. You refer to it as food pornography, what do you mean by that?

The media want to entertain without making people think. Cooking is everywhere, on TV and in magazines, but it's mostly how-to guides without any substance, and no thought behind it – it's definitely not gastronomy.

To get out of this mess we need to look back at Brillat-Savarin's main premise in The Physiology of Taste(1848), where he describes gastronomy as "the reasoned comprehension of all that relates to the nourishment of man." It has to do with chemistry just as much as physics, biology, genetics and agriculture, of course. But it is also a question of history, anthropology, economics and politics. Gastronomy is a complex multidisciplinary science. Even Hippocrates sensed the connection between food and health. He wrote, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." When I tell people I'm a "gastronomist" I don't want them to think "epicurean socialite". I want it to evoke all the bounty and huge range of possibilities that word entails.

"Gastronomy is a complex multidisciplinary science."

 

How did gastronomy become a political issue?

When we started the Slow Food movement in 1986, we wanted to build a global movement for food culture. We now have 160 member countries and a sizeable impact. In September 2016, at Terra Madre's next biannual meeting, the Salone del Gusto in Torino, we will be issuing recommendations to governments on recognizing biodiversity as a cultural heritage that needs protecting. We are giving food for thought to 600 students at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, which we opened in Italy.

And don't forget that feeding ourselves is one of our basic human concerns. In fact, it is a powerful leveraging tool in political, economic, religious and ecological matters. Gastronomy can and should be an instrument of change.

"Gastronomy can and should be an instrument of change."

How is the acceleration of climate change forcing us to get organized and take action?

Like Edgar Morin says, we have to change the paradigm. Right now everything depends on four motives that go unchecked: science, technology, industry and profit. There are many excesses and disastrous outcomes. Academic advances in animal feed led to the mad cow disease crisis, the number of peasants and skilled workers is falling dramatically, 65% of biodiversity has been lost by focusing on the most productive species – the very species that are threatening soil fertility – and this is going on even when waste is at an all-time high. Yet it is the globalization of food production that can be blamed for a large part of greenhouse gas emissions. The system is criminal. You just have to look at the exponential population growth projected to reach 9 billion in 2050. Soil fertility and resource management are critical issues.

"Change is in the air."

We should stop being consumers and start becoming "co-producers". There are already initiatives to develop local economies through the AMAP network in France (Association for Maintaining Small-Scale Family Farming), or changing methods of producing and shipping food. Pope Francis even issued an encyclical on climate change, for which I agreed to write the preface despite being deeply agnostic. We have to get organized and things will start moving. I helped set up the first farmers’ markets in large US cities and now there are over 4,000 of them, even one in Harlem. There are 10,000 microbreweries in the United States – 20 years ago there were only two. Change is in the air.

Why should agriculture once again become a central part of our lives?

Everyone's saying you have to eat organic. It goes without saying that in an ideal world food would be good, local and organic. But sometimes you have to make a tradeoff. It's better to eat local food when you know that organic is coming from the other side of the world! You have to educate yourself, get to know the land and the people involved. Rome wasn't built in a day. This is a "quiet" revolution and patience is the operative word. First, we need to restore our relationship with the earth. We have to learn how to love it again. Farmers and ordinary people have to reopen the dialogue.

 

 

 

 

 

www.relaischateaux.com/us/magazine/

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New Year's Yoga Retreat at Villa in South Of France - LuxYoga

NEW YEAR'S AT THE VILLA
DEC 29, 2015 - JAN 4, 2016
BIKRAM YOGA RETREAT
with Craig Villani & Benjamin Sears

The sixth year of our most sought-after retreat, New Year 2015 represents everything we believe about life and yoga. This retreat is the essence of LUX, not just because some choose to get a little fancy, but because it is a place to go to have the healthy and fun New Year you deserve, an experience that is evidence of your progress as a human who lives in a unique, beautiful and nourishing way. Get away from the madding crowd and connect with people like you, people who want to live well and celebrate - and practice and feel great.

The original LUXYOGA paradigm, this retreat is lead by two heavy-hitters. The first ever LUXYOGA retreat came about in 2007 after Benjamin bought his best friend Craig a really good lunch at a cafe in NYC and then pulled out some photos of the villa. These two have run retreats together for 9 years and have grown both the curriculum and their friendship while doing what they love in a beautiful place.

Craig Villani, former Director of Education for Bikram Yoga Worldwide is known in the Bikram Yoga community as the teacher's teacher. He sets a high bar and empowers you to reach it. Craig is master of group energy and his deep understanding of the therapeutic aspect of the practice leads students and teachers alike to make great progress quickly. Benjamin assisted multiple Bikram trainings under Craig's tutelage and is now highly sought after for his own Bikram yoga seminars in studios around the world. He is an embodiment of the balance of the practice and offers a students-first, compassionate approach that weaves yoga into everything you do. Benjamin is known as much for his hands-on approach to yoga therapy with beginning and injured students as he is for his ability to use the nuances of the practice and body to train competitors and yoga asana athletes.

This retreat is the premier opportunity to refine your Bikram Yoga practice and teaching. Expect challenging, fair and accessible classes and two consummate hosts. All levels are most welcome.

December 29 - January 4 2015- 2016 Availability

Eurostar $2950 per guest for the share, female only - 3 spaces open (contact us if you prefer to book a double room privately for $3950)
Great Gatsby Suites $6150 (1 guest), $3895 each (2 guests) - booked
The Concord $5250 (1 guest), $3450 each (2 guests) - booked
The Temple Suite $7450 (1 guest), $5150 each (2 guests) - booked
Guest Cottages $2985 (1 guest), $2450 each (2 guests) - one open

 

‘Luxury yoga retreat on French Riviera’ in Luxury Travel Magazine: http://www.luxurytravelersguide.com/luxury-yoga-retreat-in-french-riviera/  by Lorre White, The Luxury Guru

World class yoga, at a luxury private villa in the south of France ~ LuxYoga

Anyone that has followed my media work, 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  amount of incredible natural beauty and the high quality of lifestyle have long lured the jet set crowd.

 

The practice of yoga has  been adopted on a global scale by the wealthier demographics.  I love yoga and even went through teacher training 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 is a profound void of quality yoga  in the south of France and indeed in France in general.  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 started to travel with yoga instructors, because they just can’t go all summer void of a regular practice.  Yoga is a lifestyle.  I am not sure why a country that has embraced luxury, and indeed produces and contributes luxury globally, is so completely devoid of world class yoga instructors.  Perhaps it the attitude of the French women that it is somehow pleabish to sweat? 

 

New York City has become the global centers for superior quality yoga teachers.  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.  The price is all inclusive (except massages and spa treatments) and the price is dependent on which room you book.  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.”

 

 

For a more in-depth understanding, I sat down for a chat with the American owner of LuxYoga, Benjamin Sears, to learn more about his special yoga oasis.

 

Lorre: It used to be that yoga was for hippies living in communes, and now it has been elevated to spa status.  Can you talk to me about the proliferation of yoga in the wealthier  classes?

                   

Ben: 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. I’m glad that in our society yoga is open to all people and that higher-net worth folks are getting interested. Everyone, no matter how much or how little they have will need to learn at some point 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. 

 

Lorre: Can you tell me about the location of your villa, views, distance from Cannes, Nice airport, sea, etc.?

 

Ben: 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. We provide airport transfers from Nice, which is a half-hour ride. 

 

Lorre: How much time do you spend in New York and how much  in France?

 

Ben: I am here in France running retreats five months out of the year. I spend another 3 or so months on the road teaching seminars around the world and the remaining 4  I spend at home in Soho, NYC. 

 

Lorre: Many of my luxury followers actually take a yoga teacher  with them when they travel.  My media following is global, and the UHNW identify as global citizens instead of by country of origin.  Yoga is very popular with the wealthier demographics.  Across the board I have gotten complaints from them about the lack of quality yoga classes/teachers in France.  How has bringing in New York City level teachers, to a region that gets so many wealthy international summer residents as the Cote Azure benefited you?

               

 

Ben: Our students come from all over the world; some because they are seeking us out as teachers, others because they are looking at the South of France as a destination and recognize, after a little research, that our team is worth their time. I follow a simple rule: if I want to continue learning from someone, then they are good enough for LUXYOGA. Trusting my own quality barometer in this way has created a really special environment in which our students experience not only our classes but also our friendships. They see that we respect each other and are always looking to continue learning. Further, the arc of development represented by a week-long retreat is something that only experienced and very aware teachers will understand. Nothing can be haphazard and group energy is the most powerful igniter of individual progress, so we design our curriculums with great care. 

 

 

Lorre: Are most of your guests English speaking?  Are classes held in English or in French?

 

Ben: Our guests are international and most do speak English. Classes are in English. 

 

Lorre: How much of the day is spent doing yoga.  Can you tell me about the format? Is there any particular type of yoga taught at your retreats? 

               

Ben: There is a two hour morning session and a three hour one in the afternoon each day. On two of the days ther is a non-yoga option to expliore the local area with an organized outing.  On the last day there is a big breakfast and checkout.

All of our teaching 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. 

 

Lorre: You say that your retreats are perfect for beginners as well as advanced yogis.  How can you teach such vast differences in skill level without wasting the time of one or the other?

 

Ben: Advanced yoga, to me, simply means that the practitioner is doing what she needs to do in order to advance. The practice diagnoses disequilibriums and challenges the practitioner to work on them. The way to grow in yoga is not to show up ready to show what you already have, your first nature,  but instead to see what you can learn from the world, from your second nature. At any level of experience, refinement is the name of the game, and we can help with that. Beginners will build a strong foundation here and more experienced students will develop tools to work on their challenge areas. 

  

Lorre: What do guest do in the evenings?

               

Ben: Each evening is an incredible, casual chic, classic riveria 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. 

 

Lorre: Can you describe your two best rooms?   Can you tell me about some of your guests and what they most enjoy about your retreats?

Our 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. 

 

Lorre: Meals are taken together.  I see that you have private chefs that can accommodate special dietary requirements  or food allergies.  Can you speak to me about the types of food.  What is the typical meal like?

 

Ben: 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.  

 

Lorre: As an American, what inspired  you to create this lovely combination of a luxury yoga retreat?  When was it opened?  How far in advance must guest book in order to get reservations?

               

Ben: 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 to 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. 

 

Lorre: Can you speak to me about your background in yoga?  How long have you taught?  

 

Ben: I have taught for ten years and have studied primarily with Ana Forrest, the Bikram Method, Dharma Mittra, Katonah Yoga, as well as forays into personal training, Ayurveda, anatomy and Thai massage

 

Lorre: Tell me about your  guest instructors that come in from other countries?

 

Ben: Our instructors are close-knit group of selected individuals who are all internationally recognized for their work in the yoga community. 

 

Lorre: What would you most like us to know about your Villa yoga retreat ?

 

Ben: Luxury is more than a car or a watch. Those are just things. Real luxury is what everyone deserves, and that is being treated with love and care and attention to detail in all things. That's what we do at lux, both outside and inside the yoga room in different ways that appropriate for each setting. People feel at home here and that supports the progressive arc in the yoga room. We have been doing this for 9 years and have yet to offer a retreat without at least one returning guest. We have guests who have been back to us 9 times. 

  

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/

 

 

 

  Lorre White  "The Luxury Guru"

 www.LuxGuru.Typepad.com for UHNW, ranks #3 Globally for Luxury Blogs in Brand Passion Report for Global Luxury Brands and #1 of the luxury blogs that reach the luxury consumer.

 www.WhiteLightConsulting.net Luxury Marketing for elite brands

THE FUN ART SHOW - Art Monaco'15 July 9-12 Mark the Dates

No event attracts world's wealthiest like Art & no place attracts them more than Monaco

Art Monaco (July 9-12)

The best of both! 

 

Lorre White, and White Light Consulting, are happy to be working with Art Monaco'15

 

The sixth edition of Art Monaco will truly be something to remember for a long time. We will have some incredible, legendary works from masters on display, along with an amazing array of exhibitors from across the globe - including Austria, Germany, Japan, China, Uruguay, Mexico, Australia, France, Italy, Switzerland and more!

Advance and Early Bird tickets are now available for all events:

Thursday July 9th
Patron's Preview (Black Tie)
Vernissage Private Opening (Black Tie)

Friday July 10th
General Admission
Private Night VIP (Black Tie)

Saturday July 11th
General Admission
Gala - Excellence Prize (Black Tie)

Sunday July 12th
General Admission

ARTMonaco'15 will be taking over Espace Fontvieille for a fun new interactive experience. Monaco in July- what's not to love!

Jackson Pollock will be in the house!

This year's Art Monaco includes a special presentation of a never-before-seen curated selection of masterpieces attributed to the controversial American Painter JACKSON POLLOCK (1912-1956), who was a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. These paintings were kept in a private collection for over 50 years.

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Leading Hotels Offer Yoga Experiences for Luxurious Relaxation

Everyone needs to find healthy ways to relax, release and regenerate, and The Leading Hotels of the World offers unique yoga experiences to help harried travelers achieve serenity. Here are just a few.

At Grand Hotel Heiligendamm on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast, guests experience authentic yoga from the Himalayas with yoga master Sanjay Vyas. Qualified in yoga meditation and Ayurvedic treatment as well as in Thai massage, he comes from Rishikesh, the birthplace of Himalayan yoga. To help guests get the most benefits, the hotel has created a five-night “Yoga with Sanjay” package which includes daily breakfast buffet; a 330-minute wellness package comprising two hours private training with Sanjay (available Wednesday to Sunday), a 60-minute Thai massage; 90-minute Ayurvedic full-body massage; 60-minute Ananda facial; and access to the 3,000-square-meter spa with swimming pool, Jacuzzi, gym and saunas; as well as participation in the hotel’s cultural programs; tax and service charge. Rates for the five-night stay start at EUR 800 per person sharing in a double room, and EUR 1,150 for single occupancy. 

Along a seemingly infinite stretch of sand, amidst Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage, a strand of sophisticated, visually striking villas lines the dramatic beachfront. Inspired by 2,500 years of history, The Nam Hai’s architecture and interior design presents a dramatic play on wind and water inspired by ancient feng shui philosophy and the grandeur of the Tu Doc royal tombs of Hue. In this inspiring setting, guests can make mornings count even on vacation with The Nam Hai’s complimentary outdoor yoga overlooking the South China Sea or stretch into lotus anytime with private in-villa sessions led by yoga instructor Giri Raj Timshina. Guided meditations are offered from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., followed by Hatha flow yoga session, combining a series of poses with breathing exercises, from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. All classes take place at the resort’s open lounge, a spacious pavilion above the main swimming pools. 

To celebrate the sumptuous refurbishment of the Spa de Constance at Constance Le Prince Maurice on Mauritius, the resort recently engaged world-renowned fitness guru Isabelle Lamant. Inspired by her love of graceful movement, Isabelle’s classes are based around her philosophy of balance integrated into fitness, dance and yoga. Isabelle has a background in gymnastics and classical dance, which she has since combined with intensive yoga and Pilates training. Based around ‘control and fitness’ and ‘sculpt and balance’, Isabelle’s aim is to help her clients exercise their way to a more healthy, balanced lifestyle. Each session also shows guests they can integrate practical exercises into their daily life when they return home. Cultivating the next generation of healthy travelers, Isabelle has also designed a fun-filled program for younger guests called ‘Yoganimals’ to help children improve motor skills, concentration, posture and breathing through simple, fun exercises. 

The spa staff at Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Golf-Spa in Bariloche, Argentina, believes that encouraging children to develop a healthy lifestyle when they are young will pay off later in life. The hours they spend in front of their computers or playing video games produce tension in their backs and have an impact on their body posture. Besides, the responsibilities of school work, together with the large number of activities that children and adolescents perform during the year, become a heavy load. At "Llao Llao Kids Spa", children between 6 and 12 years of age enjoy a Wellness Area offering exercise routines that induce relaxation, and various therapies adapted to the ages and needs of children. Programs are designed to incorporate yoga exercises and other techniques with massages to help youngsters achieve balance and well-being. Yoga classes for adults are also available.

Where better to engage in the practice of yoga than in India? At Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, there is a dedicated yoga pavilion where guests can immerse themselves fully in a variety of exercises and meditations. Jiva Spa continues the time-honored tradition by abiding by the rules and practices of the Bihar School of Yoga – a holistic form of yoga that integrates physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions equally. Catering to guests at all levels of aptitude, Jiva Spa offers a comprehensive range of practices, including classic poses or asanas; abhilaya, to diminish the effect of jet lag; breathing exercises or pranayama; sun salutations to energize the body; shatkarma or purification rituals; as well as meditation, inner silence and psychic sleep sessions.

Capitalizing on its brilliant location along the Atlantic Coast of Florida, Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach makes all of its yoga offerings available on the beach at sunrise or sunset times. September is an ideal time to visit the resort and take part in a range of specialty classes during National Yoga Month. During this month-long yoga marathon, sessions include meditation; experiential workshops, enabling guests to avoid injury by focusing on alignment; arm balance basics; backbends, to loosen the spine and improve circulation to the internal organs; and hand postures to improve meditation and promote focus. Guests can also learn about yoga for a restful night’s sleep, focusing on mindfully releasing tension from the body; and yoga for the office, offering techniques to increase circulation to avoid chronic patterns of holding and tension in the body. 

With its exceptional location in the city where Europe meets Asia, Swissotel The Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, is home to an equally exceptional spa and health facility. Amrita presents a yoga program for guests’ physical and mental health with Asthanga yoga lessons. Ashtanga yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures – a process producing intense internal heat and, purifying perspiration that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body and a calmer, more serene mind. The trainer of Ashtanga yoga lessons is Petek Küçüktüzen, one of the most prominent names of this field. Classes are offered every Thursday morning at 7:30 and Friday evenings at 6:15.

Yoga as practiced at Shanti Maurice – a Nira Resort on the island of Mauritius is completely traditional, with adaptations to suit individual needs. Experienced yoga masters create personalized programs designed to assist guests through their personal journeys. Components can include an hour-long Hatha yoga session, to help regulate breathing by exercises consisting of postures and stretches intended to sustain healthy bodily functions and induce emotional calm. A more intensive version - Iyengar Yoga - is based on the principles of Hatha Yoga using high energy, dynamic movements and props to achieve total body alignment, core strength and improved mental capacity. Guests can dial it down a notch with Tartak, a half-hour session based on an ancient form of meditation involving concentrated focus on the flame of a candle, to promote energy, clarity and intuitive capabilities. Or they can go all-out with a two-hour Shankaprakshalana procedure guided by an Ayurvedic doctor and yoga master which involves drinking saline water followed a session of yoga postures to cleanse the digestive system and balance the endocrine and respiratory systems. 

For reservations, visit www.LHW.com. In the USA & Canada please call 1-800-223-6800 or contact a travel professional.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com