Luxist http://www.luxist.com Luxist. http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.luxist.com/media/feedlogo.gif Luxist http://www.luxist.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament: Celebrity, Philanthropy, and the Allure of Shadow Creek]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/04/05/michael-jordan-celebrity-invitational-golf-tournament-shadow-creek-las-vegas/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/04/05/michael-jordan-celebrity-invitational-golf-tournament-shadow-creek-las-vegas/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/04/05/michael-jordan-celebrity-invitational-golf-tournament-shadow-creek-las-vegas/#comments Michael Jordan Golf Tournament
The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament hosted by Aria Resort And Casino, was recently held at the Shadow Creek Golf Course in North Las Vegas. Luxist attended the event this past weekend and experienced first-hand the unique blend of celebrity and philanthropy. However, this year the event took place at one of the most alluring, mythic, elite golf courses in the U.S., Tom Fazio's Shadow Creek. And for the first time, the course opened to the general public.

A little more on this golf course: unlike many famous courses, this one is hard to imagine, out in the middle of the Nevada desert, and even harder to find. From the Las Vegas strip, it's about a half hour away -- north on I-15 to Craig Road, then go west, then north again, and finally, through some imposing guard gates. And then, there it is, beyond the gates -- the 350-acre, $60 million plus, exceptionally private, painfully green, Tom Fazio course looking more like courses at Pinehurst, or Kiawah, or Augusta. Anywhere, almost, but Nevada.

Shadow Creek boasts quiet streams, rushing brooks, weeping willows, waterfalls, ducks, pheasants, rabbits, and stone bridges that look eerily like the old Swilken bridge at St. Andrews. Indeed, Shadow Creek, has an untouched, impossibly perfect, movie-set look, as if few mortals would ever dare to actually play the course.

For many years, adding to this ineffable allure, is fact: for years, and even now, ONLY MGM Resort guests are permitted to play Shadow Creek. Green fees are listed at $500.00 -- with limo service to and from the course. And the players must schedule tee times at least an hour apart, giving the impression that golfers are on the course by themselves. All of this plays into an image of ultimate elitism combined with escapism, creating a course intrigue that involves rarity, mystery, and sanctuary.

The course's route runs mostly north and south so the sun's glare would miss the golfer's eyes, and Fazio with his builders, dug 50 feet into the low desert to provide for elevation changes and enough dirt to build hills around the entire property to provide another dimension of privacy. One of the stories heard, perhaps apocryphal, was that many who live close to the golf course don't know of its existence.

Continue reading The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament: Celebrity, Philanthropy, and the Allure of Shadow Creek

Filed under: , ,

The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament: Celebrity, Philanthropy, and the Allure of Shadow Creek originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> celebrity philanthropycharitygolfLas VegasMake-A-Wish FoundationMichael JordanMichael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf TournamentNevada Cancer CenterShadow Creek Golf Coursesports Susan Kime Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Lifestyle Asset Group Launches a New Luxury Residence Collection]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/04/03/lifestyle-asset-group-luxury-residence-collection/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/04/03/lifestyle-asset-group-luxury-residence-collection/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/04/03/lifestyle-asset-group-luxury-residence-collection/#comments Lifestyle Asset Group's Residence, Blue Sky Lodge, Deer Valley Utah Lifestyle Asset Group's Residence, Blue Sky Lodge, Deer Valley Utah

Lifestyle Asset Group, a new fractional ownership company, described as the "next generation of luxury vacation ownership," has launched.

This group has created a novel hybrid residence collection, based on the investment fund/equity-based club model. Lifestyle Asset Group allows 100 participants to collectively own 12 residences. The residence's average value is $2.5 million. With a one-time capital contribution of $300,000, each equity owner enjoys seven years of residence access booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Equity owners have the option to transfer their interests at any time without penalties or fees. As part of the Collective Asset Ownership (CAO) model, Lifestyle Asset Group says it operates in a debt-free mode, as it sells interests in the club structure as a means to create collective ownership of multiple real estate assets.

Continue reading Lifestyle Asset Group Launches a New Luxury Residence Collection

Filed under: , ,

Lifestyle Asset Group Launches a New Luxury Residence Collection originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> destination clubsInvestment Funds based ClubsLifestyle Asset GroupPrivate EscapesRichard KeithVacation Clubs Susan Kime Sun, 03 Apr 2011 10:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[$100 Million for a Second Home in California? A Russian Billionaire Just Bought One!]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/31/100-million-home-silicon-valley-california-yuri-milner/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/31/100-million-home-silicon-valley-california-yuri-milner/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/31/100-million-home-silicon-valley-california-yuri-milner/#comments Yuri Milner $70 million home in Silicon Valley California
The Russian billionaire, Yuri Milner, has paid $100 million for a second home in California's Silicon Valley, in Los Altos Hills. According to the Wall Street Journal's Market Watch, March 30th, it is the highest known amount paid for a home in the United States.

This home is 25,500 square feet of living area, and was inspired by 18th-century French chateaux (see above). It has 25,000+ square feet of living space with five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a central entry court, ballroom, home theater, wine cellar, spa/gym, a tennis court, car wash, swimming pool and formal gardens. The living areas are all located on the second floor to take advantage of the dramatic San Francisco Bay Bay view. It was designed by the prestigious Hablinski + Manion Architectural & Planning Group.

Mr. Milner's primary residence is in Moscow, where he lives with his wife and two daughters, but he is a frequent visitor to the high-tech enclave in northern California.

The 47-year-old Internet tycoon appeared on the cover of the most recent issue of Forbes magazine and has invested heavily in Facebook, Zynga and Groupon through his investment firm DST Global. His company is said to control about 10 percent, or $5 billion worth, of Facebook's shares. He also has had positive dealings with the Russian online company Mail.ru.

The home was bought from another tycoon, Fred Chan, founder of ESS Technology, who has reportedly decided to live in Hawaii after building the Silicon Valley mansion.

Mr Milner reportedly made the transaction through a limited liability company called La Paloma Property. After years of relative market flatness, this sale has been seen as a sign that the market in high-end properties on the West Coast are becoming more, well, effervescent.

Gallery: $100 Million Home in Silicon Valley

Upstairs HallFormal Dining RoomFormal LibraryMaster Sitting RoomMaster Bedroom

Filed under:

$100 Million for a Second Home in California? A Russian Billionaire Just Bought One! originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> CaliforniaDST GlobalESS TechnologyFred ChanHablinski + Manion Architectsluxury homesluxury homes Los Altossecond homes market in CaliforniaSilicon ValleyYuri MilnerYuri Milner Forbes Magazine Susan Kime Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Refresh, Rehab, Revive: A New Facelift for The Old Hollywood Roosevelt]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/29/hollywood-roosevelt-hotel/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/29/hollywood-roosevelt-hotel/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/29/hollywood-roosevelt-hotel/#comments Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
Since 1927, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel has been the local meeting place of bygone luminaries, including Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift. Monroe stayed when her career was just emerging, while Monty stayed during some of the filming of From Here to Eternity.

The hotel itself was named after Theodore Roosevelt, who provided some of the initial funding for the star-studded spot. It was also the first place where the Academy Awards were held.

Within our century, this was the hotel where Prince stayed in 2007, where Michelle Pfeiffer sang on a piano in the film, The Fabulous Baker Boys, and where one of the last episodes of Entourage was filmed.

And as for location, it is right in the middle of classic Hollywood: located on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, across from Grauman's Chinese Theater.

Yet, like any 80-year-old Hollywood star, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, now owned by Thompson Hotels, needed to refresh and renew -- and recently, after a reported $35 million facelift, this process is complete. The 300-room hotel is again ready for the spotlight, with the redesign of the Cabana Rooms as well as the debut of three unique entertainment venues: Public Kitchen & Bar, The Spare Room and Beacher's Madhouse.

Continue reading Refresh, Rehab, Revive: A New Facelift for The Old Hollywood Roosevelt

Filed under: ,

Refresh, Rehab, Revive: A New Facelift for The Old Hollywood Roosevelt originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Beachers MadhouseCabana Rooms Hollywood RooseveltDavid Hockney underwater pool muralHollywood Roosevelt HistoryHollywood Roosevelt Hotelhotelold Hollywoodold Hollywood hotelsStudio Collective Design FirmThe Spare Room ThompsonsHollywood Roosevelt HotelThompsons Hollywood Roosevelt HotelTropicana Pool Susan Kime Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[The Swanson Late Bloomers: A Late Harvest Wine Trend in Napa Valley]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/26/swanson-vineyard-napa-valley/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/26/swanson-vineyard-napa-valley/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/26/swanson-vineyard-napa-valley/#comments Swanson Winery Swanson Winery Entrance

Napa Valley is an environment committed to preservation, populated with those who perfect the essence of multi-layered taste -- be it food, wine or both.

French Laundry and Bouchon are in Yountville, also known as nirvana for Thomas Keller pilgrims. Exceptional wineries are tucked away, often from highway view, in Rutherford, Saint Helena, Oakville, and Calistoga. Resorts are also hidden: The Inn at Carneros (up a side road, behind a garden wall), Calistoga Ranch (in a private canyon), Meadowood (at the end of Meadowood Lane and near the base of Howell Mountain) all removed from plain sight, all worthy of joyous discovery.

Those who retreat to Napa that often engage in wine tastings also discover trends. On a recent journey, I uncovered the emergence of late harvest wines that are becoming increasingly well-known and more appreciated than ever before. Swanson Vineyards makes three exceptional late harvest wines, and has evolved into one of the leaders in this field.

Continue reading The Swanson Late Bloomers: A Late Harvest Wine Trend in Napa Valley

Filed under: ,

The Swanson Late Bloomers: A Late Harvest Wine Trend in Napa Valley originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> CaliforniaCalistoga RanchDessert WineInn At CarnerosLate Harvest WineMeadowood Napa ValleyMission GrapesNapa ValleyNapa Valley Wine TrendsSwanson Angelica WineSwanson Crepescule Late Harvest WineSwanson Late Harvest WinesSwanson Tardif Late Harvest WineSwanson WineryWine TrendsYountville Susan Kime Sat, 26 Mar 2011 08:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Playing Well, Doing Good: The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament at Shadow Creek, Las Vegas]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/24/michael-jordan-celebrity-invitational-golf-tournament-shadow-creek-las-vegas/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/24/michael-jordan-celebrity-invitational-golf-tournament-shadow-creek-las-vegas/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/24/michael-jordan-celebrity-invitational-golf-tournament-shadow-creek-las-vegas/#comments Michael Jordan Golf
"I'm truly excited about bringing my tournament to Las Vegas. Shadow Creek is one of my favorite courses and ARIA is a spectacular resort. I love seeing old friends, playing golf and having fun, but the most gratifying aspect of hosting the event is what we've been able to give back." said Michael Jordan in a recent interview.

Significant wealth and great philanthropy are often interconnected, as philanthropic giving among the uber-wealthy is a common occurrence. Bill Gates, Steve Case, Warren Buffett and others have donated billions to help others and have started their own foundations to do it. Certainly, to whom much is given, much is required, is an oft-quoted line from the New Testament in the Bible. This sense of a returning a cosmic favor also lives among significant celebrities, with Michael Jordan as a prime example.

Continue reading Playing Well, Doing Good: The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament at Shadow Creek, Las Vegas

Filed under: , ,

Playing Well, Doing Good: The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament at Shadow Creek, Las Vegas originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> ARIA Resort and CasinoCats CareCelebrity Golf TournamentsGolfJames R. Jordan FoundationMake-A-Wish FoundationMichael JordanMichael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf TournamentNevada Cancer InstituteShadow Creek Golf CourseTom Fazio Shadow Creek Golf Course Susan Kime Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Theatre Of Horticulture: The Orchid Show Opens at the New York Botanical Garden]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/09/theatre-of-horticulture-the-orchid-show-opens-at-the-new-york-b/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/09/theatre-of-horticulture-the-orchid-show-opens-at-the-new-york-b/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/09/theatre-of-horticulture-the-orchid-show-opens-at-the-new-york-b/#comments
New York Botanical Garden

The nation's largest and only curated orchid exhibition opened on Saturday, March 5th at the New York Botanical Garden, showcasing more than 5,000 orchid plants in a Broadway-style setting. "The Orchid Show: On Broadway" runs through April 25 and features more than 300 species and hybrid orchids from around the world.

For the first time, the setting of the exhibition is designed as a Broadway theater, in order to present the compelling nature of orchids, that includes an orchid stage, highlighting the astonishing variety of these plants in all colors, shapes and sizes.

"It is exciting to me to design this space in a theatrical way. The flowers are like actors on the stage. I provide the framework for the beauty of them," said the garden's Tony award-winning scenic designer Scott Pask. He and image maker Drew Hodges showcased thousands of orchids with theater-inspired set pieces at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. There, the proscenium arch of the Walter Kerr Theater and the promenade of the New Amsterdam Theater have been re-created. It is a rare display of the theater of horticulture, starring the divas of the plant world.

The question is, after knowing something about orchids and their cultivation, having actually seen some in the Amazon wild, and some in my mother's wild backyard, what is it about orchids that create passion? Why indeed are they often called the Divas of the plant world? Possible answers emerge if their history is contemplated. The earliest known orchids were from the Mediterranean region, and were named Orchis -- a reference to the Greek word for testicle, because of the flower's twin oval tubers. These and other orchids have been considered useful in medicine, but the only orchid of Epicurean value is Vanilla planifolia, the source of vanilla flavoring. This orchid was used by the Aztecs and became known in Europe shortly after the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

Continue reading Theatre Of Horticulture: The Orchid Show Opens at the New York Botanical Garden

Filed under:

Theatre Of Horticulture: The Orchid Show Opens at the New York Botanical Garden originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Cattleya orchidsDendrobium OrchidsDrew HodgesNew York Botanical GardenNew York Botanical Garden Orchid ExhibitionOrchid HistoryorchidsScott PaskThe Orchid Show:On BroadwayVanilla orchids Susan Kime Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:04:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Cuvee Ventures And Cuvee Escapes: Combining Return On Investment And Return On Life]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/08/cuvee-ventures-and-cuvee-escapes-combining-return-on-investment/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/08/cuvee-ventures-and-cuvee-escapes-combining-return-on-investment/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/08/cuvee-ventures-and-cuvee-escapes-combining-return-on-investment/#comments
The Cuvée Residence, Lanai

Cuvée Ventures and Cuvée Escapes appears to have lived, since 2005, a well-funded, quiet, under-the-radar yet lively existence within ultra high net worth and wealth management communities.

"One third of our investors are private wealth or money managers. Our rental clients are celebrities, internet and retail executives and sports figures." said Larry Mueller, founder and CEO of Cuvée Ventures and Cuvée Escapes in a recent interview, "they really understand money and investment. But they are also at a place in their lives where they want to enjoy, in addition to substantial ROI (return on investment), what I call ROL -- a return on life investment-- as well."

"My idea to create this high-end, travel community began in 2005, where we could start a fund, create a community of accredited investors, and buy high end properties in cash. We would have great leveraging ability because of this, and after we bought them, either we could enjoy them when we wanted, or rent them out through our other company, Cuvée Escapes. We provide all of the extras -- a concierge on property, private chefs, cleaning services, whatever was wanted and needed by the investor family or the renter. That's the ROL of it!"

Both ideas, as both companies, compliment and supplement each other. Cuvée Ventures is a private equity fund /real estate investment group, whose investors enjoy the $5-8 million Cuvée residences purchased by their fund. When not being used by their investors, Cuvée Escapes also rents the homes, for between $3-8,000 per night.

Unlike the basic destination club model, either equity or non-equity based, Cuvée Ventures is a fund-based equity investment group, and rents the properties it owns, when the investor-families are not using them. It is also, according to Larry, 100% debt-free on its investment in real estate.

A few facts and stats: There have been two funds since 2005 that have purchased exceptional residences -- see next page. The investors pay $750,000 for a 1/2 share investment allowing 15 nights per year, and the full share investment, $1,500,000, allowing for 30 nights per year. The investors may stay at any of the residences available. Each accredited investor owns his or her share of the limited partnership that owns the real estate, so all of the investor money is tied directly to the hard asset. In Fund I, there were 17.5 shares and about 20 investors, and
in Fund II, there were 12 shares and about 14 investors.

Continue reading Cuvee Ventures And Cuvee Escapes: Combining Return On Investment And Return On Life

Filed under:

Cuvee Ventures And Cuvee Escapes: Combining Return On Investment And Return On Life originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Cuvee EscapesCuvee Ventureshigh end travel communitiesLarry Muellerprivate equity fund travel communitysecond homestravel communities Susan Kime Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[A High End, Newly Opened Mountain Retreat: Hacienda Santa Ines, Costa Rica]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/04/a-high-end-newly-opened-mountain-retreat-hacienda-santa-ines/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/04/a-high-end-newly-opened-mountain-retreat-hacienda-santa-ines/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/04/a-high-end-newly-opened-mountain-retreat-hacienda-santa-ines/#comments A High End, Newly Opened Mountain Retreat: Hacienda Santa Ines, Costa Rica

Hacienda Santa Ines is an unusual combination of high end resort/sanctuary and working ranch. Set on 300 acres of farmland, it is hidden in the Tres Rios Mountains that loom 6,000 feet high over Cartago, Costa Rica's old capital city. The Hacienda is new, as it just opened for business in February.

Available for one family or small group to rent exclusively at a time, there are 11 guest rooms, with a staff of 25. iPad and iPod docks as well as wi-fi, allow the guests to remain connected to the outside world, if they want to. The theater room has a Blu-Ray library, and the game room offers pool, table tennis, and more. The spa's two masseuses specialize in four-handed treatments. The fully-equipped gym has mountain and valley views with state-of-the-art equipment. Cigars can be smoked in the paneled cigar room. The view from the indoor pool and Jacuzzi is of gardens and mountains.

The chef makes good use of the farm's fresh eggs and vast organic kitchen garden and greenhouse. Rustic lunches are served in the woods, by the lagoon, or at a variety of barbecue spots dotted throughout the ranch. Modern stables house Fresian horses, ideally suited for gentle walks or energetic adventures. A fleet of ATVs are at guests' disposal, perfect for traveling through the estate's private lands and its three micro-climates. There is an elaborate 100,000-square-foot paint-ball field. There are 300 cows. milked twice daily. Children can feed lambs, calves, rabbits, chicks and piglets at the Petting Zoo.

Located an hour from San Jose's international airport, Hacienda Santa Inés is a unique locale for a family gathering, reunion, corporate retreat, or small wedding. Costa Rica's Pacific beaches are 20 minutes away from the Hacienda's helipad. And the Hacienda is ideally located for car or helicopter excursions to San Jose, the capital, as well as rain forests, waterfalls and volcanoes, in Costa Rica's interior. Pricing ranges from $12,000 to $18,500 per day. There is an added price for children and other guests, depending on the ages, ranging from $200 to $500 per day.

More images are on the next page.

Continue reading A High End, Newly Opened Mountain Retreat: Hacienda Santa Ines, Costa Rica

Filed under:

A High End, Newly Opened Mountain Retreat: Hacienda Santa Ines, Costa Rica originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> costa ricaCosta Rica HaciendasCosta Rica high end travelCosta Rica sanctuaryHacienda Santa InesTres Rios Mountains Susan Kime Fri, 04 Mar 2011 07:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Three New Villazzo VillaHotel Openings In Aspen]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/01/three-new-villazzo-villahotel-openings-in-aspen/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/01/three-new-villazzo-villahotel-openings-in-aspen/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/03/01/three-new-villazzo-villahotel-openings-in-aspen/#comments
VillaHotel Natasha

Villazzo VillaHotels is one component of Villazzo, the boutique villa company well-known in the US and Europe, partly because it is one of the most expensive, and luxurious, and also because it is modeled on a unique hybrid, combining the boutique hotel and villa models into one. The Villazzo VillaHotel serves celebrities and their entourages, diplomats and their families and extended families, and the like. According to President and CEO Christian Jagodzinski, those who also use Villazzo VillaHotel services are large families, or smaller families who plan multi-family reunions.

The Villazzo VillaHotel are large villas, with multiple bedrooms, ususally also with game rooms, workout facilities, pools, home theatre rooms, with boutique hotel staffs to serve the needs of each Villa guest. The VillaHotel staff includes a resort manager, personal butler, a bellboy, chefs and servers, bartenders, child care specialists and masseuses. None of the staff actually sleeps at the property; so guests have complete privacy.

Two years ago, I stayed at one of the smaller Villazzo VillaHotels in Florida and found it an exceptional experience. The food prepared by the chef was great, the peace of the villas was outstanding, and the limo driver was always ready to take me wherever I needed to go. It was on par and often above the best destination clubs and private residences clubs I have ever sampled.

Miami and Saint Tropez, are two high end destinations where Villazzo VillaHotels can be experienced, and recently Aspen, Colorado has been added to the list. Last month, Villazzo opened three new Villazzo VillaHotels, as well as an office to serve clients and their needs in a personal, high-touch way. There are three new VillaHotels, listed below. More images of the three VillaHotels are on page two of this post.

The first is VillaHotel Natasha, pictured above.

Located just 10 minutes from Aspen, the 11,000 square foot VillaHotel Natasha offers a private luxury ski resort, in a mountain contemporary style. It is a 5 bedroom, 8 bathroom lodge-inspired Aspen luxury villa, featuring a large heated deck on the second level accessible to all of the bedrooms and looks out onto the 4.5 acres of private land. Inside, VillaHotel Natasha offers large living and dining areas with vaulted ceilings, roaring fireplaces, and panoramic windows, as well as a home theatre, billiard room, gourmet kitchen and wine cellar. There is also a heated indoor pool and elevator to all floors. VillaHotel Natasha sleeps 12. Pricing ranges from $10,200 to $19,700 per night, depending on season.

Continue reading Three New Villazzo VillaHotel Openings In Aspen

Filed under: ,

Three New Villazzo VillaHotel Openings In Aspen originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Christian JagodzinskiVillazzoVillazzo Aspen OfficeVillazzo Hotels opening AspenVillazzo VillaHotel AspenVillazzo VillaHotel ChantalVillazzo VillaHotel NatashaVillazzo VillaHotel PamelaVillazzoVillaHotel Susan Kime Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[The Ultimate Las Vegas Philanthropic Gala: Diamonds, Exotic Travel, Classic Cars, And Curated Experiences]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/25/the-ultimate-las-vegas-philanthropic-gala-diamonds-exotic-trav/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/25/the-ultimate-las-vegas-philanthropic-gala-diamonds-exotic-trav/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/25/the-ultimate-las-vegas-philanthropic-gala-diamonds-exotic-trav/#comments

According to the Organization For Economic Co-operation and Development, The United States led the world last year in charitable donations, a whopping $28.67 billion dollars worth. So it is no wonder that one of the largest, wealthiest and most respected charity galas, the Power Of Love, in Las Vegas also netted quite an amount last year, for a one-night celebration: $28M, with $8M from a single donor. This year, actually, this Saturday, they are expecting to do even better, due to the dazzling, over-the-top auction prizes, even for Las Vegas.

On Saturday, February 26, Keep Memory Alive (KMA) will host its 15th annual Power of Love Gala at Bellagio in Las Vegas. Along with an evening of live entertainment, Power of Love guests will enjoy a significant auction bidding experience with impressive, one-of-a-kind items to benefit Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health provides state-of-the-art care for cognitive disorders and for the family members of those who suffer from them. It is a substantial treatment center in Las Vegas, opened in July of 2009, where many substantial donations have helped the center thrive. A recent Luxist piece was written on Steve Wynn's commission of a James Rosenquist painting for the Clinic.

The live auction on Saturday evening will have items (see images next page) and experiences that are both pricey and priceless -- a private lunch with Lee Iacocca, and the opportunity to win the I-Legacy, one of 45 limited edition Mustangs. Luxist wrote about this unusual opportunity recently. Then, there's an eight night wine tour of Italy for four people, curated by Michael Mondavi, another wine trip to Australia, ownership of a new Fisker Karma, time in the Los Angeles recording studio with Kenny 'Babyface" Edmonds, and more. The silent auction will have ownership experiences like winning the Mercedes 2012 SLS AMG Roadster, and original Blue Dog art by George Rodrigues and others. There are many more entertainment, travel, and cultural adventures, jewelry giveways from Tiffany's and Harry Winston, to high end shopping sprees.

Some auction items are listed on the next page. A complete listing is on the Keep Memory Alive website.

Continue reading The Ultimate Las Vegas Philanthropic Gala: Diamonds, Exotic Travel, Classic Cars, And Curated Experiences

Filed under: , ,

The Ultimate Las Vegas Philanthropic Gala: Diamonds, Exotic Travel, Classic Cars, And Curated Experiences originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Bellagio Las VegasClevelanc Clinic Lou Ruvo Center For Brain HealthKeep Memry Alive Power of Love GalaLas Vegas Cleveland ClinicLas Vegas Philanthropic GalaPhilanthropic auctionsphilanthropic giving in the USphilanthropyPower Of Love gala Susan Kime Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Up For An Extreme Adventure? Fit For Trips Can Get You Off And Running]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/22/up-for-an-extreme-adventure-fit-for-trips-can-get-you-off-and-r/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/22/up-for-an-extreme-adventure-fit-for-trips-can-get-you-off-and-r/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/22/up-for-an-extreme-adventure-fit-for-trips-can-get-you-off-and-r/#comments

Recently, I wrote piece for Luxist about Abercrombie & Kent's new extreme adventures, five new ones that test the endurance many travelers: including trekking and/or snowmobiling across glaciers, going on road rallies in Morocco, sleeping in tents on glaciers and in deserts, hiking in Bhutan, climbing to the Base Camp of Mount Everest or Mount Kilimanjaro, and the like. It was suggested by Abercrombie & Kent that those who would like to do adventures like these might also like to partake of services provided by Fit For Trips, a company that provides fitness training for these extreme adventures and other, softer adventures as well.

The popularity of adventure travel has grown exponentially in recent years, due to many socio-economic factors: the Gen X/Y population and Boomers who want to experience places they have only seen in movies or read about, those who want to combine sports with adventure, those who want to include sports, risk, and adventure, and those who want a far out and far away, once-in-a-lifetime-experience.

"The consensus is there would be double or triple the number of people who would be up for these adventures if they felt fit enough to go, and this is where we come in," Marcus Shapiro, Founder of Fit For Trips, told Luxist recently.

In a perfect world, or even in a semi-perfect one, the many who wanted to do adventure travel would indeed be fit enough -- to cycle, climb mountains, hike all day, swim lakes, and ford rivers, ride horses, and camp -- but that seems not to be true. Many do not feel fit, many have had sports, accident, and just simply, life injuries. This is why Fit For Trips was created -- to partner with travel operators, like Abercrombie & Kent, so that people who wanted to take extreme adventures actually could.

Marcus Shapiro, founder of Fit For Trips, is by nature and education, a fitness trainer, world traveler and adventure enthusiast. After receiving his degree in Exercise And Sports Science, he traveled the world, and began conceptualizing two (then) diverse ideas -- fitness and adventure travel. He realized that in order to fully enjoy adventure travel, the traveler had to be fit, or fairly fit -- else he or she would be suffering from rolled ankles, torn meniscuses, rotator cuff injuries, and that once-in-a-lifetime adventure would REALLY become one, mainly because the traveler would never want to go on another adventure again.

Continue reading Up For An Extreme Adventure? Fit For Trips Can Get You Off And Running

Filed under:

Up For An Extreme Adventure? Fit For Trips Can Get You Off And Running originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Abercrombie Kent Extreme AdventuresAbercrombieKentExtremeAdventuresAdventure TravelAdventure Travelsextreme adventure travelFit For Tripsfitness adventure travelMarcus Shapiropopularity adventure travel Susan Kime Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Fractional Life Award Winners, Presented At The Fractional Summit in London]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/19/fractional-life-award-winners-presented-at-the-fractional-summi/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/19/fractional-life-award-winners-presented-at-the-fractional-summi/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/19/fractional-life-award-winners-presented-at-the-fractional-summi/#comments Fractional Life Award Winners, Presented At The Fractional Summit in London
Castello di Casole residence with infinity pool

It was a good day for Italy and a great day for Timbers Resorts as the 2011 Fractional Life Awards were presented on the final day of London's annual Fractional Summit Conference, on Friday, February 18th, 2011.

Castello di Casole in Tuscany - a Timbers Resorts development won both the Best Fractional Development category and the Readers' Choice Award. The latter is voted for by readers of FractionalLife.com, and Castello di Casole secured an impressive 36% of the vote, winning over the other shortlisted projects - Firstlight The K Club in Ireland, Four Seasons Residence Club Vail and Auberge Residences at Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

On a personal note, I have seen the Castello di Casole. While traveling in Florence, I was driven out into the Tuscan hills near Siena. The Castello di Casole, is a large parcel of land, replete with olive groves, fig trees and vineyards, as well as 19 restored farmhouses called Casonas -- some are fractionalized some are wholly owned, with 17th century stone facades, glass tiled infinity pools, wood burning ovens all with totally unimpeded views of the hills of Tuscany. It was an exceptional project, combining a sense of peace, sanctuary, and history, as this land had been cultivated since the times of the Etruscans, a people whose language and culture have yet to be completely understood.

And also for Tuscany, restoration architect Fulvio di Rosa, whose Borgo de Vagli defines authentic restoration, won the Fractional Life Services To The Industry Award. Di Rosa is renowned for his passion for authentic architecture and his belief in the strength of fractional ownership concept.

Continue reading Fractional Life Award Winners, Presented At The Fractional Summit in London

Filed under:

Fractional Life Award Winners, Presented At The Fractional Summit in London originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> fractional life awardsfractional ownershipfractional real estate Susan Kime Sat, 19 Feb 2011 08:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Intelligence Made Visible: Travel + Leisure Design Awards 2011]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/15/intelligence-made-visible-travel-leisure-design-awards-2011/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/15/intelligence-made-visible-travel-leisure-design-awards-2011/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/15/intelligence-made-visible-travel-leisure-design-awards-2011/#comments

Great design is intelligence made visible, but great travel design must take this idea to the next level -- it can't just look pretty, it has to combine functionality, strength, and ease of use. Those of us who travel do NOT have time for things that don't work, aren't strong, and don't make our lives easier while on the road.

For seven years, the Travel + Leisure Design Awards have rewarded companies, products, hotels, innovators, and innovations of every type with recognition and gratitude in making the travelers lives better and their travel expereience more memorable. In addition, an overall Design Champion is named.

"The 2011 Design Awards underscore and celebrate the significant impact that good design has on travel," said Nancy Novogrod, Editor-In Chief of Travel + Leisure. "Our judges are not T+L Editors. The jurors look for exceptional function, unqiue statement and inventive reinterpretation."

The panel of jurors include:

David Childs, chairman emeritus, Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill
Paulette Cole, CEO and creative director, ABC Carpet & Home
Fred Dust, partner, IDEO
Norma Kamali, fashion designer
Danny Meyer, CEO, Union Square Hospitality Group
Nadja Swarovski, creative director, Swarovski Crystal
Henry Urbach, curator of architecture and design, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
T+L's Consulting Design Editor Chee Pearlman was the jury moderator.

Winners of these seventh annual awards represent the best new examples of design in a range of categories from hotels and transportation to luggage and travel fashion. They will be honored at the New World Center in Miami on February 23rd.

Below is a list of the Travel + Leisure Design Award winners:

Best Large Hotel: The Yas Hotel (see above) in Abu Dhabi,UAE, is set half on land and half on water, overlooking the Yas Marina & Yacht Club and positioned on the Yas Marina Circuit, which plays host to the annual Formula 1[TM] Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Continue reading Intelligence Made Visible: Travel + Leisure Design Awards 2011

Filed under: , ,

Intelligence Made Visible: Travel + Leisure Design Awards 2011 originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> 11 11 Lincoln Road MiamiAmangiriApple iPadAshmolean MuseumAshmolean Museum OxfordBowers Wilkins PS Noise-Isolating HeadphonesBrusselsFreeCity Supershop SupermatHussen ChalayanJambox Portable Speaker by JawboneNissan LEAFNorwegian Cruise Line Epic StudiosNorwegian Cruise LinesPantone HotelPantone Hotel BrusselsPatagonia M10 jacketPatagonia Ultralight Down jacketSnow Peak Hozuki LanternTable 1 ShanghaiThe Nissan LEAFTravel + Leisure Design AwardsTravel + Leisure MagazineTumi Vapor CollectionUrban Mobility Pack by PumaYas Hotel Abu DhabiYas Marina and Yacht ClubYas Marina Circuit Susan Kime Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Affordable Luxury: The Opening of Ravella At Lake Las Vegas]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/12/affordable-luxury-the-opening-of-ravella-at-lake-las-vegas/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/12/affordable-luxury-the-opening-of-ravella-at-lake-las-vegas/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/12/affordable-luxury-the-opening-of-ravella-at-lake-las-vegas/#comments


Dolce Hotels and Resorts' newest property, Ravella at Lake Las Vegas, opened its doors on February 11th. Ravella is a 349-room-and-suite resort, situated on the shores of the largest privately owned man-made lake in the country. Located 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip on the site of the former Ritz-Carlton(R) at Lake Las Vegas, Ravella offers kayaking, boating and fly fishing, and the nearby SouthShore Jack Nicklaus golf course. Ravella also features a 24 treatment room, 30,000-square-foot Mediterranean-inspired spa, salon and fitness center, 39,000 square feet of meeting and social event space, Las Vegas's only over-water chapel called La Capella di Amore, as well as multiple lounge and dining experiences. Ravella guests may also access two marinas, near the Village Lake Las Vegas, an enclave reminiscent of colorful lake communities in Italy and France.

Guests will experience a redesigned lobby that serves as a social gathering spot. Its nearby Firenze Lounge spans three distinct activity areas for guests --to relax with something to eat, and/or plug in their laptop, and/or socialize over coffee or cocktails. Ravella guests also have privileged access to The Village Lake Las Vegas and can bill restaurant meals to their hotel rooms. Focused on affordable luxury, Ravella's room rates start at $120 per night. Nevada residents also enjoy a 25-percent locals discount with valid Nevada ID.

In addition, Ravella's environment provides a colorful backdrop for corporate retreats, a vital part of the Dolce Hotel and Resort's corporate identity. Large-scale meetings, weddings and lakeside events are palnned, and can be easily accommodated. Brides-to-be will enjoy the La Capella di Amore, Ravella's over-water chapel located on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. There's also a Florentine Garden, Tuscany Courtyard; and private beach with waterfall.

Continue reading Affordable Luxury: The Opening of Ravella At Lake Las Vegas

Affordable Luxury: The Opening of Ravella At Lake Las Vegas originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Dolce Hotels and ResortsJack Nicklaus SouthShoreLa Capella di AmoreLake Las VegasLas vegasRavella At Lake las VegasRavella At Lake Las Vegas Hotel OpeningSouthShore Golf Club at Lake Las VegasSouthshore Jack Nicklaus GolfThe Spa At RavellaVillage Lake las Vegas Susan Kime Sat, 12 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Sweet Temptations: Valentine's Day At City Center, Las Vegas]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/11/sweet-temptations-valentines-day-at-city-center-las-vegas/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/11/sweet-temptations-valentines-day-at-city-center-las-vegas/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/11/sweet-temptations-valentines-day-at-city-center-las-vegas/#comments
I have written about City Center, Las Vegas in Luxist before, the last column was on the many the New Year's Eve celebrations. Because of those, I thought New Year's was surely the city's most attractive holiday. Silly me! I now realize that Valentine's Day contains as much or more of the sybaritic Las Vegas DNA than New Year's. New Year's defines new beginnings, but Valentine's Day? It's about risk-taking -- in romance, infatuation, and sensuality -- essentially carpe diem-ing (seizing the day) in excelsius (in the highest manner) for at least 24 hours.

So here, in honor of St. Valentinus, Patron Saint of love, young people, and joyous marriage, is an image of a Tabu Lounge Chocolate Martini (above) to toast lovers and other strangers who find themslves at CityCenter, celebrating the sweet, varied enjoyment of Valentine's Day.

ARIA Resort And Casino has a Romance Package that includes a two-night stay in a tower suite, combining an in-suite couples' massage and aromatherapy bath, champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries and two day passes to The Spa at ARIA. The package is priced at $830 (Sunday - Thursday) or $1,030 (Friday - Saturday) and is valid through May 2011.

Continue reading Sweet Temptations: Valentine's Day At City Center, Las Vegas

Filed under: , , ,

Sweet Temptations: Valentine's Day At City Center, Las Vegas originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Aria Resort and Casino Las VegasAria resort and Casino Valentines DayCityCenter Las VegasRomance packages City Center Valentines DayTabu Lounge Las VegasThe Spa at Aria Valentines dayValentines Day City CenterValentines Day Las VegasVdara Hotel Valentines DayVdara Spa Valentines Day Susan Kime Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Of Perception And Promotion: The Creation Of The Mexico Real Estate Coalition]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/09/of-perception-and-promotion-the-creation-of-the-mexico-real-est/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/09/of-perception-and-promotion-the-creation-of-the-mexico-real-est/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/09/of-perception-and-promotion-the-creation-of-the-mexico-real-est/#comments
In response to the ongoing safety challenges that have been facing Mexico the past year, many top real estate and resort developers, title companies, banks, and other companies throughout the country, have formed a coalition to specifically promote living and investing in Mexico. More than 30 organizations have formed the MREC (Mexico Real Estate Coalition.) It's the first time a coalition like this has been created to advocate for the potential buyers and retirees interested, but yet hesitant, about buying and living in Mexico. This includes the high end fractional and Private Residence Club buyers as well as luxury and mid-level second home purchasers.

The Mexico Real Estate Coalition includes Juan Diaz Rivera of Capella Pedregal, Eduardo Sanchez Navarro of Grupo Questro, Andres Rosetto of Punta Mita, Jorge Carerra of Querencia, Horst Schulze (founder of the Ritz Carlton) and Christopher Hill, CEO of Stewart Title, Latin America, among others. Together, the group is taking a proactive stance to educate Americans and others on the benefits of living and for some, retiring in Mexico. The coalition also directly addresses perceptions about Mexico being a dangerous country.

"Recently," Juan Diaz Rivera, founder of Capella Pedregal, and Chairman Of The Mexico Real Estate Coalition, told Luxist, "I flew to Tijuana from Cabo to pick up a new car. I had no problem, even though I had accidentally left some important papers in the car. Then, the same day, I drove to Beverly Hills to meet some friends for lunch. I parked in a parking garage downtown. When I returned from lunch, my passport, travel money and other papers had been stolen. It was such an ironic thing to happen to me, as we at MREC always say that bad things happen everywhere, not just Mexico. And here I am, living proof, and in Beverly Hills!"

Continue reading Of Perception And Promotion: The Creation Of The Mexico Real Estate Coalition

Filed under:

Of Perception And Promotion: The Creation Of The Mexico Real Estate Coalition originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Capella PedregalGrupo QuestroJuan Diaz RiveraLive Mexico websiteLiveMexico.orgliving in MexicoMexicomexico real estateMexico real Estate CoalitionMRECpromoting living in MexicoPunta MitaQuerenciasafety concerns Mexicosecond home buying Mexico Susan Kime Wed, 09 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Not For The Faint Of Heart: Five New Extreme Adventures From Abercrombie & Kent]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/08/not-for-the-faint-of-heart-five-new-extreme-adventures-from-abe/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/08/not-for-the-faint-of-heart-five-new-extreme-adventures-from-abe/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/08/not-for-the-faint-of-heart-five-new-extreme-adventures-from-abe/#comments

Certain people viewing at this image, and the ones on the next page would find them to be definitions of dreams as yet unrealized -- finally getting away from it all in an ultimate mental and physical fitness challenge. And, for those people, Abercrombie & Kent has good news: five new extreme adventures have been launched last week.

Extreme Adventures is a very popular component of Abercrombie & Kent, and it is NOT for everybody. On their website, the verbiage defines the extreme adventurer:

Extreme Adventures are for the travelers ready to meet a different kind of challenge. No matter what goals we attain in our lives and careers, nature remains the ultimate benchmark of what we can achieve. An Extreme Adventure reveals exactly who you are, demanding the most of your physical, psychological and perhaps even spiritual selves.

Face the challenge of freezing temperatures, soaring altitudes, pounding G forces and barren deserts. Venture to places that test your ability to persevere; push your body to the limit in the harshest conditions and with the most demanding activities. Savor the rewards that only come from experiencing nature at its most extreme.

Since launching Extreme Adventures, Abercrombie & Kent has seen great interest from solo travelers, especially on personal challenge experiences like climbing Mount Olympus or crossing Iceland's glaciers. While many people travel solo because they don't have a partner who shares their idea of adventure - others simply prefer the freedom of leaving their everyday lives to embark on an adventure far, far away with an expert local guide. Adventure travel appears to be a good fit for solo travelers, as the adventure itself promotes a kind of camaraderie, based on encouragement in sharing a once in a lifetime experience.

"With one in four of our Extreme Adventures clients traveling solo, we've designed as many of our programs as possible to be solo-friendly, with a single-supplement of 15% or less," explains Abercrombie & Kent president Scott Wiseman. "We've discovered that this not only appeals to solo travelers, but also to groups traveling together who prefer the privacy of their own rooms or tents."

In addition, to help prepare for an Extreme Adventure, A&K recommends Fit for Trips, a service which provides customized fitness programs that simulate the same stresses and forces on the traveler's body that they will experience during the expedition. This prepares the body to handle the unique challenges of a specific itinerary for an ultimately more successful and rewarding experience.

Below are descriptions of the five new solo-friendly Extreme Adventures for 2011:

Continue reading Not For The Faint Of Heart: Five New Extreme Adventures From Abercrombie & Kent

Filed under: ,

Not For The Faint Of Heart: Five New Extreme Adventures From Abercrombie & Kent originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Abercrombie and Kent New extreme adventureAbercrombie KentAbercrombie Kent Extreme AdventuresAbercrombie Kent Fit For Tripsextreme adventuresIceland Glacier travelsMount Olympus travelspersonal challenge adventuressolo extreme challenge travel adventures Susan Kime Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Stefano Pilati Designs The Opium Experience: A New YSL Retail Space At Crystals, Las Vegas]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/07/stefano-pilati-designs-the-opium-experience-a-new-ysl-retail-sp/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/07/stefano-pilati-designs-the-opium-experience-a-new-ysl-retail-sp/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/07/stefano-pilati-designs-the-opium-experience-a-new-ysl-retail-sp/#comments

"I call it the opium experience," Stefano Pilati, Creative Director of Yves Saint Laurent, and of the Yves Saint Laurent's boutique retail space design. Opium is the name of the amber/reddish lacquer of the ceilings and wall panels. It is, serendipitously, also the name of the French brand's legendary perfume.

Las Vegas has two YSL Boutiques, but the one at City Center is the first to be designed in the Stefano Pilati style. Only two other YSL stores in the US feature this design at present. Historically, the store design was unveiled back in 2008 at the beginning of Paris Fashion Week. It was Pilati's hope that the design would become iconic enough to be recognizable without any logo.

"I wanted to do something that was timeless," Pilati said in an interview back then, " where the design had to go beyond my era at Saint Laurent: it had to be contemporary, with a strong, identfiable identity."

Continue reading Stefano Pilati Designs The Opium Experience: A New YSL Retail Space At Crystals, Las Vegas

Filed under: , ,

Stefano Pilati Designs The Opium Experience: A New YSL Retail Space At Crystals, Las Vegas originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> citycenterCityCenter Las Vegasstefano pilatiyves saint laurent Susan Kime Mon, 07 Feb 2011 08:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[The St. Regis Lhasa, Tibet: Designing the Luxury East/West Experience at 12,000 Feet]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/04/the-st-regis-lhasa-tibet-designing-the-luxury-east-west-exper/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/04/the-st-regis-lhasa-tibet-designing-the-luxury-east-west-exper/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/04/the-st-regis-lhasa-tibet-designing-the-luxury-east-west-exper/#comments

My colleague, Deidre Woollard, wrote in Luxist about opening of The St. Regis Lhasa Tibet in November, 2010. It is now receiving significant attention for its original architectural design that merges traditional Tibetan elements with signature St. Regis amenities into a luxury hotel literally on top of the world.

At 12,000 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest luxury hotels in the world, with unimpeded views of the Himalayas and Lhasa Valley. The resort was designed from the ground up with sustainable features including solar panels, locally-sourced produce and herbs for the resort's three signature restaurants, as well as an underground water recycling system.

The eight-acre-resort complex is inspired by the nearby world-famous Sera Monastery, built in 1419, a place of great architectural and spiritual significance to this region. The Sera Monastery developed over the centuries as a place of scholarly learning, and trained hundreds of scholars, many of whom have attained fame in the Buddhist nations. There are still nunneries and hermitages on the property, and is still home to famous Tibetan Monk debates about Buddhist sacred texts.

"The Sera Monastery is beautiful, dramatic and lively, and very much what I wanted to capture about Tibetan culture," said Jean-Michel Gathy, Principal Designer of Denniston International Architects, and the architect, interior and hardscape designer for the St. Regis Lhasa. "And, while the monastery is an immense place," he continues, " I appreciated how they have created many intimate spaces and courtyards. It was an excellent model for introducing the St Regis brand to this region."

Similar to the natural beauty of the surrounding Himalayas, the resort is surrounded on all sides by high pale gray walls made from stone, and landscaped with poplar and willow trees. The buildings have exteriors of stone with dark shale/tile pagoda-style roofs, an homage to the ancient Buddhist culture that surrounds the resort. There are three main complexes with buildings that house 150 guest rooms, 12 villas and suites, and a Presidential Suite. In addition, the resort features The Decanter Wine Bar and The Iridium Spa.

Continue reading The St. Regis Lhasa, Tibet: Designing the Luxury East/West Experience at 12,000 Feet

Filed under: ,

The St. Regis Lhasa, Tibet: Designing the Luxury East/West Experience at 12,000 Feet originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Barhkor area of LhasaChristian de LaubaudereDenniston International ArchitectsDrepung MonasteryHeavenly Lake NamtsoIridium SpaIridium Spa St. RegisJean-Michel GathyJokhang TempleLhasa TibetNorbulingkaPotala palaceSera MonasterySt. Regis Lhasa ResortTibetTibetan Buddhism Lhasa Susan Kime Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Engaging The Millennial: Augmented Reality And The Wired Generation]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/01/engaging-the-millennial-augmented-reality-and-the-wired-generat/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/01/engaging-the-millennial-augmented-reality-and-the-wired-generat/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/02/01/engaging-the-millennial-augmented-reality-and-the-wired-generat/#comments

Millennials are defined as those born in the 1980s -- between 42 and 50 million (USA Today stats) who came of age with the new century, now between 18 and 28, and have also come of age truly wired, far more so than Boomers ( now reaching retirement age) or Gen Xers, ages 30-45. Millennials have grown up linked by BlackBerries, Androids, IPhones, computers, IPods, and video games. This is the generation of Wii, Facebook, Twitter, free downloads, access to just about everything. How do luxury brands engage these mindsets?

Thankfully, Augmented Reality, is proving to be a major force in this engagement. It is a process already in existence that combines two diverse dynamics: the perception of personal exclusivity and, a multi-dimensional, sensory experience. Augmented Reality, or AR, is a method for using a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input, like sound or graphics. It presents unique opportunities in terms of virtual fashion shows, digital flagship stores, 3D advertising campaigns, augmented reality Iphone applications, iPad magazines, Facebook live-streams and Twitter-based customer service. These are just a few examples of the long list of digital innovations that luxury brands have pioneered in 2010. And the field is growing. According to figures from ABI Research, the market for augmented reality (AR) in the US alone is expected to hit $350m in 2014, up from about $6m in 2008, or, around 50 times more from 2008 to 2014.

Augmented Reality is taking digital marketing strategies to a more sensory, immediate, attuned level -- perfect for Millenials, and others on either side of the generational divide. AR enables consumers to virtually try on jewelry, watches, clothing and handbags. The technology requires object recognition and computerization on the PCs, Macs or mobile devices as well as 3D renderings to superimpose images on the real world. What this process does is allow greater interactivity in the selling/buying process, creating an emotional connection between product needs and consumer desires. As a prime example, Tissot Reality: through its website Tissot lets users print and cut out a paper strip in order to try on virtual watches. Tissot showcased the application with an interactive Selfridges, London window display. This reportedly resulted in increasing in-store sales at Selfridges by 85%, while the YouTube views of the campaign have surpassed 70,000. See below, with the Tissot wrist watch AR video:

Continue reading Engaging The Millennial: Augmented Reality And The Wired Generation

Filed under: , , ,

Engaging The Millennial: Augmented Reality And The Wired Generation originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> ABI ResearchAdidas Originals Augmented Reality Game PackAudi Augmented Reality Car CalendarAugmented RealityAugmented Reality Airwalk Jim ShoeAugmented reality and MillennialsGucci Group Augmented RealityMillennial GenerationMillennialsPew Research Center MillennialsRalph Lauren 4-D Fashion EventRobert PoletSocial Media MillennialsTissotTissot Augmented RealityTissot RealityToyota Auris virtual test driveToyota Scion Digital CampaignVirtual Mirrors Susan Kime Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Next Great Place: A New Travel Experience Network From An Exclusive Resorts Alumnus]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/26/next-great-place-a-new-travel-experience-network-from-an-exclus/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/26/next-great-place-a-new-travel-experience-network-from-an-exclus/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/26/next-great-place-a-new-travel-experience-network-from-an-exclus/#comments
Next Great Place residences at Capella Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas

Tom Filippini has both a significant background and pedigree in the high end travel industry, and is a substantial traveler himself. Filippini has visited roughly 50 countries and nearly every state in the US. And, this passion led Filippini to become one of the co-founders of Exclusive Resorts, the world's largest destination club, where he served as Executive Vice President, generating over $750 million in new membership sales. Filippini and fellow Exclusive Resorts alum Erik Mitisek have since left their positions with ER, and have launched Next Great Place, an online travel planning company that streamlines the process of planning and booking unique, complex vacations.

The Next Great Place process begins with travelers submitting a vacation request, detailing information such as destination desired, number of guests, and budget. Next Great Place subsequently submits the request to a vetted group of vendors in the desired destinations. Over the next 48 hours, those suppliers create customized travel proposals that are returned to the traveler who chooses the proposal they like the most, locking in the proposed rates.

"Our vision is to improve the lives of travelers by facilitating their enjoyment of more frequent and better vacations with family and friends," Filippini told Luxist, "Our online travel network will match travelers seeking custom experiences to pre-screened travel suppliers, ultimately creating a more efficient and hassle-free way to plan unique vacations." Next Great Place will target family-oriented accommodations including condo-hotel residences and individual villas with each supplier vetted using the company's proprietary 300-point checklist to ensure the highest quality standards in every destination.

The video below shows the back story of exactly how a luxury residence meets the high, detail-oriented standards of Next Great Place. From thread counts to toilet seats, this video shows how exacting these people are!

Continue reading Next Great Place: A New Travel Experience Network From An Exclusive Resorts Alumnus

Filed under: , ,

Next Great Place: A New Travel Experience Network From An Exclusive Resorts Alumnus originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> beaver creekcabo san lucasCapella Pedregaldestination clubsEsperanzaExclusive ResortsNext Great PlaceTom Filippinivacation club Susan Kime Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Good News At Calistoga Ranch: Sales Volume Greater Than In Past Two Years Combined.]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/25/good-news-at-calistoga-ranch-sales-volume-seven-times-greater-t/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/25/good-news-at-calistoga-ranch-sales-volume-seven-times-greater-t/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/25/good-news-at-calistoga-ranch-sales-volume-seven-times-greater-t/#comments

Usually, even in dark economic times when sales volume for many fractional developments have dropped substantially, there are some steady projects that buck the trend. Last week, good news emerged from Calistoga Ranch, a high end Private Residence Club tucked away in a private canyon in Napa Valley, when it was announced that more sales were closed in 2010 than in the past two years combined. "The stats are great!," said Josh Dempsey, Director of Real Estate, " the purchase price is $475K for a 1/10 interest, our sales volume in 2010 was15 sales at $475K each, equaling $7,125,000 sales total. This is a wonderful sign for Calistoga Ranch, and also for the Private Residence Club industry in general."

I have written about Calistoga Ranch in Luxist early last year, and had noted then its unusual qualities of sanctuary. Some qualities are aesthetic, some practical, but all have to do with the sense of peace derived from being there. I traveled there two years ago, at my own expense, because I had written about Calistoga Ranch before, and wanted to experience the wooded environment, the modular architecture, the Wine Cave, and the Spa -- famous for its mud baths, thermal waters, and peace. And indeed, there were attributes about Calistoga Ranch that I have found nowhere else, so it does not seem surprising that the sales improved, as the economy improved. From my writings about luxury trends in Luxist, high end buyers are attracted by unique properties in elite locations, whose land holds value no matter how the economy turns.

Located in a private canyon on 157 acres just outside the town of Calistoga in Napa Valley, Calistoga Ranch encompasses 48 guest lodges and 23 owner lodges offering overnight accommodations, spa services, and the Lakehouse Restaurant on Lake Lommel. It also features an on-site vineyard and mountain wine cave, where owners and guests can share in the process of winemaking and immerse themselves in the wine culture, so prevalent in the area.

Each guest lodge feels like it is its own camp, modular in design, made from clusters of spaces centering around an outdoor living area and fireplace, just like a campsite. In addition, there are many 100 year old Heritage Oak trees integrated into the terraces and porches of the Lodges, as they are built around the trees. The architect, Scott Lee, designed and placed the over 200 living structures -- the residences, lodges, and other buildings, at Calistoga Ranch -- around the trees so as not to disturb the eco-system already in place..

Continue reading Good News At Calistoga Ranch: Sales Volume Greater Than In Past Two Years Combined.

Filed under: ,

Good News At Calistoga Ranch: Sales Volume Greater Than In Past Two Years Combined. originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Calistoga RanchCalistoga Ranch Napa ValleyPrivate residence ClubsPrivate residence Clubs Napa ValleySales statistics Calistoga Ranch Susan Kime Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[2011 Luxury Travel Trends Forecast From Virtuoso Luxe Report]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/21/2011-luxury-travel-trends-forecast-from-virtuoso-luxe-report/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/21/2011-luxury-travel-trends-forecast-from-virtuoso-luxe-report/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/21/2011-luxury-travel-trends-forecast-from-virtuoso-luxe-report/#comments
This week, Virtuoso(R), luxury travel industry's leading travel network, released their Virtuoso Luxe Report, forecasting relevant travel trends, based on travel decisions and other motivating factors for upscale 2011 travel.

The year of 2011 may mark the end of the "staycation", the popular vacation where individuals, couples and families stayed in one place during their whole trip. According to Virtuoso(R), travelers are once again desirous of multi-destination exploration. Indeed, Virtuoso(R) says its clientele increased their travel purchases by 36 percent from 2009 to 2010, with luxury international leisure trips being the dominant choice.

This year's report shows international travel is slated to be the most popular type of trip in 2011, with 57 percent of respondents reporting clients reserving international trips of eight days or longer. Italy, France and South Africa are the three most popular international destinations for travelers in 2011, followed by Australia and Mexico. Vietnam took the front-running spot as the most popular emerging destination - a position previously occupied by India, which instead became the second most popular emerging destination; followed by China, the Galapagos Islands and Morocco.

For families traveling in 2011, Europe is also in position to be the most popular destination, continuing to support data that international travel is on the rise. Italy and England were ranked the two most popular family travel destinations for this year. Also included were trips to Hawaii and Costa Rica, followed by Alaska.

Interestingly, the survey reported that family and multi-generational travel is the biggest emerging travel trend for 2011. Additionally, the survey found that more travelers are including infants and toddlers in their trip planning. Of those booking travel, the top three motives influencing travel choices included: seeking authentic experiences in new destinations; rest and relaxation; and spending time or reconnecting with loved ones - further supporting the reasons for the increased interest in family travel.

"The Luxe Report findings offer great insight into the mindset of the upscale traveler and predict the trends in luxury-focused, leisure travel for 2011," said Virtuoso CEO, Matthew D. Upchurch. "A strong return to international travel indicates a certain level of economic recovery, as does the increase in families traveling together"

Here are more results of the Virtuoso Luxe survey:

Continue reading 2011 Luxury Travel Trends Forecast From Virtuoso Luxe Report

2011 Luxury Travel Trends Forecast From Virtuoso Luxe Report originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> luxury international lesiure travelLuxury travel trends 2011VirtuosoVirtuoso Luxe Report 2011Virtuoso Travel Network Susan Kime Fri, 21 Jan 2011 08:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Kohler Announces Official Plans For The Hamilton Grand Renovation at St. Andrews]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/19/kohler-announces-official-plans-for-the-hamilton-grand-renovatio/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/19/kohler-announces-official-plans-for-the-hamilton-grand-renovatio/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/19/kohler-announces-official-plans-for-the-hamilton-grand-renovatio/#comments
I have been following this renovation process of the Hamilton Grand (see above) for over a year now, and have written articles for Luxist on the process and progress of this unique renovation project.

Just yesterday more news: Kohler Co. announced the official development plans for Hamilton Grand, one of golf's most historic buildings. Located adjacent to the 255 year old Royal & Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews, Scotland, Hamilton Grand overlooks the 18th Green of the Old Course, The West Sands Beach and the Bay of St. Andrews. When finished, Hamilton Grand will become the fourth historic property restored and renovated by Kohler Co.

Last year, Kohler Co., through its subsidiary, The Old Course Limited, purchased Hamilton Grand, In conjunction with the Kingdom of Fife, the county where St. Andrews is located. Kohler Co. then held a two-day public consultation, where it welcomed St. Andrews citizens to learn more about the plans and to provide feedback for restoring the building. The meetings were met with significant interest and support, providing meaningful discourse between developer and community.
Together, new plans were conceptualized and created.



Continue reading Kohler Announces Official Plans For The Hamilton Grand Renovation at St. Andrews

Filed under: ,

Kohler Announces Official Plans For The Hamilton Grand Renovation at St. Andrews originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Hamilton GrandHamilton Grand at St. AndrewsKohlerKohler CompanySt. Andrews Golf CourseThe Dukes Course at St. AndrewsThe Old Course Hotel at St. Andrews Susan Kime Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[The Evolving Re-Vision: Lake Las Vegas And The Ravella Hotel]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/13/the-evolving-re-vision-lake-las-vegas-and-the-ravella-hotel/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/13/the-evolving-re-vision-lake-las-vegas-and-the-ravella-hotel/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/13/the-evolving-re-vision-lake-las-vegas-and-the-ravella-hotel/#comments

My colleague, Deidre Woollard, recently wrote in Luxist about the opening of the Ravella Hotel at Lake Las Vegas. I found the article to be intriguing, as I knew the recent history of Lake Las Vegas, and also interviewed -- three times -- Ron Boeddeker, owner of Transcontinental Corporation, the developer/visionary who conceived this grand idea.

The new Ravella Hotel At Lake Las Vegas is located on the site of the former Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas that bankrupted in May of last year. To many, the Ritz Carlton bankruptcy seemed like the terminal blow to the original vision of Lake Las Vegas, the last Gordian knot in a string of bad news and bankruptcies. But the opening of the Ravella, and especially from Dolce, hotel managers and operators who specialize in meetings and conferences, seems relevant and positive in the forward evolution of Lake Las Vegas.

Mr. Boeddeker's original vision was to re-create a Lake Como-like, Mediterranean enclave 17 miles from the Las Vegas strip. Multi-million dollar residences would be built along the lake, there would be fine hotels, excellent food, substantial golf courses. It was a vision that had legs, and Mr. Boeddeker's unusual expertise -- his University education combined civil engineering and ( of all things) theology -- pulled it off, for awhile. He was one of the few developers who could simultaneously envision a 320 acre lake in the middle of a desert and know how to create it from a practical engineering standpoint. In the grand home of great developer visions, this was one of the most expansive. The dark side of such a vision, and one that Mr. Boeddeker would have surely acknowledged were he still alive, was the importance of a recession-resistant economy needful to the overall health of the concept.

But the economy was not recession-resistant, and even with celebrities buying houses, exceptional hotels and golf courses in active use, Lake Las Vegas reflected the economy's downturn. Transcontinental defaulted on $540 million in loans in fall 2007, and went into foreclosure. The development was acquired by the Atalon Group in January 2008, only for it to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection six months later. And this was just the beginning:

Continue reading The Evolving Re-Vision: Lake Las Vegas And The Ravella Hotel

Filed under: ,

The Evolving Re-Vision: Lake Las Vegas And The Ravella Hotel originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Atalon GroupDeutschebankDolce Hotels and ResortsLake Las VegasRitz carlton Lake Las vegasRon BoeddekerThe Ravella at Lake Las VegasThe Ravella HotelVillage Hotel Investors Susan Kime Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Inspirato: A New Luxury Vacation Club Designed By Brent Handler, Co-Founder of Exclusive Resorts (with Video)]]> http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/06/inspirato-a-new-luxury-vacation-club-designed-by-brent-handler/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/06/inspirato-a-new-luxury-vacation-club-designed-by-brent-handler/ http://www.luxist.com/2011/01/06/inspirato-a-new-luxury-vacation-club-designed-by-brent-handler/#comments
This week marks the launch of Inspirato, the next intriguing idea of Exclusive Resorts co-founder Brent Handler. Inspirato combines the advantages of independent villa rental with the personalized services and amenities of private luxury vacation clubs. Inspirato membership provides access to a portfolio of multi-million dollar vacation homes that are controlled and operated through the company's long-term lease arrangements, along with personalized service and support. I interviewed Brent recently, and asked him questions about his new venture and adventure.

How did your entrepreneurial spirit and your Exclusive Resorts background inform your creating the new club, Inspirato?

I am the co-founder of Exclusive Resorts, and started the whole Exclusive Resorts Destination Club idea in my basement. This experience was a consequence of my being a serial entrepreneur. I always find more enjoyment in building something than maintaining and protecting something. This is why I left ER over a year ago. I still love Exclusive Resorts, but I wanted more challenges. This is the curse and blessing of having this type of entrepreneurial DNA. I am always thinking of what to do next, of different opportunities. So, I began thinking: I have always enjoyed vacation travel and remembered a statistic that really interested me and stayed with me: the villa/vacation rental industry was one that garnered $24B or so in recent years.

Why did you find that interesting?

It is interesting because that's a large dollar amount, and the villa rental experience is generally not curated for the user. We began due diligence, and discovered that those who rented villas did it through brokers, meaning the renters had no idea about the quality of the homes or their interiors. There were no travel planners at the beginning, or dedicated people to help the villa renters once they were there. So, to an entreprenuer's mind -- here was an opportunity! What we did was apply the benefits of the branded club experience to a completely different market segment, which was in this case the villa rental industry.

And this is how Inspirato was conceived?

In general, yes. Along with three other co-founders, my brother Brad who started Exclusive Resorts with me, Brian Corbett, a senior leader at Exclusive Resorts who managed the Once in a Lifetime program, and Martin Pucher, another entrepreneur from the tech world, we put together Inspirato as a way to make luxury vacation travel even easier. And I think we have succeeded. Our club is unique, in that it has no prepaid days, no upfront fees, no nightly minimum, no reservation rules, yet the members receive all the service benefits similar to destination clubs or branded clubs, like the Ritz Carlton or the Four Seasons. At Inspirato, there are Personal Vacation Advisors who learn each member's preferences and assists in vacation planning, residence selection and booking, and a Destination Concierge that offers local expertise and dedicated assistance before arrival and during the member's vacation. In collaboration with the member's Personal Vacation Advisor, Destination Concierges are experts at planning the ideal vacation that suits each member's personal preferences, from recommending and arranging activities for all ages; booking spa, golf and restaurant reservations; securing on-site transportation; and assisting with any needs during their stay.

Continue reading Inspirato: A New Luxury Vacation Club Designed By Brent Handler, Co-Founder of Exclusive Resorts (with Video)

Filed under:

Inspirato: A New Luxury Vacation Club Designed By Brent Handler, Co-Founder of Exclusive Resorts (with Video) originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Brent HandlerExclusive ResortsInspiratoVilla Rental industryVilla RentalVacation Clubs Susan Kime Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Susan Kime's Top Five Most Excellent Travel Adventures of 2010: Unexpected, Unbelievable, Unforgettable]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/21/susan-kimes-top-five-most-excellent-travel-adventures-of-2010/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/21/susan-kimes-top-five-most-excellent-travel-adventures-of-2010/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/21/susan-kimes-top-five-most-excellent-travel-adventures-of-2010/#comments
The two curses of any seasoned experiential/destination travel journalists are word count and deadline. At Luxist, I have been blessed by having no such constrictions, so it is my fault I have not written about these adventures before. My only justification is that I had to let the most formidable, yeasty experiences foment, simmer and rise. After defining my three criteria -- unexpected, singular, unforgettable of 2010 -- here are my top five -- with four out of the five being from my travels in New Zealand in June 2010.

1. New Zealand: Hiking the Southern Alps

I wrote three articles for Luxist about luxury travel trends in New Zealand this year. While there, I was given some great opportunities to explore the country. On the top of my list is hiking in the Southern Alps, near Queenstown, NZ.

I had been in the Southern Hemisphere once before, but had forgotten that mid-June was Winter. Hiking the Southern Alps was one of those upside-down experiences as I just come from Arizona, where the weather was in the mid 90's. It was therefore, an unexpected cold, where I looked around and saw a lot of snow on the mountains ( see above), as the 2010 ski season had just begun. The Southern Alps, also called The Remarkables, was the backdrop of some of the Lord of The Rings films. I was shown where Mordor's Castle was, well, virtually. But realistically, if he had a view below, in the distant perimeter would have been the Kawarau River, and in the greater distance, over the river, the first Bungee Jumping Bridge in New Zealand, constructed in 1986. You first.

2. Traveling On The Otago Wine Road, near Queenstown, NZ.

I wrote about one of the most exceptional wineries, The Peregrine Winery, on this road for Luxist, but I did not write about the others, which has been bothering me for the past 6 months. The Otago Wine Road is one of those highways that could be compared to some in Napa Valley, except the Otago lies at the foot of the Remarkables Mountain chain, AKA The Southern Alps, and many of the wineries are built on very rocky, yet fertile soil. This is Pinot Noir country. But it is also Pinot Blanc , Pinot Gris, Riesling,and Gerwurz country also. My reasoning for including this journey lies in the unexpected nature of the wines sampled. There were tastes I had not experienced before, and I thought I knew wine! The wine road was part of my ongoing Oenophile education.

Continue reading Susan Kime's Top Five Most Excellent Travel Adventures of 2010: Unexpected, Unbelievable, Unforgettable

Filed under:

Susan Kime's Top Five Most Excellent Travel Adventures of 2010: Unexpected, Unbelievable, Unforgettable originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> adventure travel in New ZealandAurum WinesBungee Jumping Bridge Kawarau RiverCentral Otago Wine Raod New ZealandChard FarmChristchurchdeconstructed mealsDolphin strand feedingKawarau RiverKiawah IslandKiawah RiverLake OhakuriLord of the Rings New ZealandMt. Difficulty WineryNZOraki KorakauPescatore restaurantQueenstownRotoruaRuatupu CaveShotover RiverSouthern AlpsThe Geirge HotelThe George HotelThe remarkables Mountain Rangethermal cave at Orakei Korako Susan Kime Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Up We Go: Space Adventures For the Risk Tolerant Explorer]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/17/up-we-go-space-adventures-for-the-risk-tolerant-explorer/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/17/up-we-go-space-adventures-for-the-risk-tolerant-explorer/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/17/up-we-go-space-adventures-for-the-risk-tolerant-explorer/#comments
Many of us still view space travel as a Star Wars idea, something beyond reality, or at least the reality we know and are comfortable with. To many, the wild blue yonder is something to admire, not to fly into, much less OUT of. But there are some whose exploration interests take them really above and beyond, defining the ultimate form of risk tolerance, the result of a deeper form of human curiosity. Space Adventures enlivens and quenches that curiosity, as it is a company that arranges space flights for private citizens. And as of this year, 2010,it is the only company that has arranged space flights for self-funded individuals. At present, seven customers have flown a total of three months in space, and have traveled 36 million miles. But it is NOT cheap! Flights to the ISS (International Space Station) are approximately $40M. A mind-boggling amount. Yet, there are other adventures and experiences that cost less. Read on!

Continue reading Up We Go: Space Adventures For the Risk Tolerant Explorer

Filed under: ,

Up We Go: Space Adventures For the Risk Tolerant Explorer originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> commercial space flightcommercial space travelcommercial spaceflightCosmonaut TrainingEVA TrainingSoyuz-TMASpace AdventuresSpace FlightsSpace travelSpacewalksZero-G Gravity Flights Susan Kime Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[ALL NIGHT LONG! New Year's Eve At CityCenter Las Vegas]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/14/all-night-long-new-years-eve-at-citycenter-las-vegas/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/14/all-night-long-new-years-eve-at-citycenter-las-vegas/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/14/all-night-long-new-years-eve-at-citycenter-las-vegas/#comments

Oh, New Year's Eve In Las Vegas! With over 315,000 partiers (the approximate number last year, according to the Las Vegas CVB) with money to spend and champagne to guzzle, fireworks on the roof at ARIA Resort and Casino at midnight... sounds pretty good! No wonder Las Vegas on New Year's Eve has often been called America's Party.

I have written about the evolving identity of Las Vegas on Luxist, highlighting CityCenter, the controversial, glamorous, $9 billion dollar project, that even for Las Vegas, is continuing source of inspiration, speculation and high drama. But for those who love crowds, fun, champagne, shows, more champagne, shopping and dropping, New Year's Eve at CityCenter sounds like a needful, glittering palliative for the Christmas blues. After all, it is a new beginning, a New Year, so why not?

Much is happening at CityCenter this New Year's Eve: here we go!

Continue reading ALL NIGHT LONG! New Year's Eve At CityCenter Las Vegas

Filed under:

ALL NIGHT LONG! New Year's Eve At CityCenter Las Vegas originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> ARIA Resort and casino Las VegasBellagio Hotel and CasinoCaramel Bar LoungeCrystals at CityCenterEva LongoriaFIX Rstaurant and BarGold Boutique NightclubHaze Nightclub Las VegasJay Seanlas VegasNew Years Eve CityCenter Las Vegas 2010-2011O by Cirque de SoleilOmakase DinnerThe BANK NightclubVIVA Elvis Cirque de SoleilYellowtail Japanese Restaurant Susan Kime Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Destination Club Holiday Gift Memberships, Part 2: Exclusive Resorts' Five Most Popular Resorts And Residences]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/14/destination-club-holiday-gift-memberships-part-2-exclusive-res/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/14/destination-club-holiday-gift-memberships-part-2-exclusive-res/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/14/destination-club-holiday-gift-memberships-part-2-exclusive-res/#comments

Exclusive Resorts is the oldest and largest destination club in the world. Its members have gone on over 100,000 vacations, and on average, according to its CEO Jeff Potter, ER has maintained a 95% satisfaction rate. This year, over 150 members joined and almost as many upgraded their membership. With 3,500 members, and in a year where many clubs have not done well, ER has opened 65 new residences, since January 2009. One of ER's other notable differentiators is their large number of residences in each destination.

I have written about Exclusive Resorts in Luxist before, and the most recent article dealt with the $10,000 gift card if a potential member joins by December 15th. "We have received many calls about this," says Jeff Hartman, VP of Corporate Communications, " and many want to give these as Christmas gifts to family, friends and business associates. A great idea, especially with that extra $10,000 they can spend!!"

I recently asked Jeff Hartman and Anne Griebling, ER's Communications Manager, about the most popular member choices in destinations and residences of 2010. Here is the list, with Anne's comments.

Continue reading Destination Club Holiday Gift Memberships, Part 2: Exclusive Resorts' Five Most Popular Resorts And Residences

Filed under:

Destination Club Holiday Gift Memberships, Part 2: Exclusive Resorts' Five Most Popular Resorts And Residences originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Casole dElsa Exclusive Resorts ResidenceExclisvie Resorts Lake TahoeExclusive ResortsExclusive Resorts Destination ClubExclusive Resorts Northstar at TahoeLos Cabos Mexico Exclusive ResortsMiraval Exlcusive ResortsPunta Ballena Exclusive ResortsReal Del Mar Residence Exclusive Resorts Susan Kime Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Destination Club Holiday Gifts, Part 1: A Membership in Quintess, or DUO by Quintess]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/07/destination-club-holiday-gifts-part-1-a-membership-in-quintes/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/07/destination-club-holiday-gifts-part-1-a-membership-in-quintes/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/07/destination-club-holiday-gifts-part-1-a-membership-in-quintes/#comments

Well, Happy Holidays! It could be me or you or a deserving friend, walking along that beach, looking toward one of the Quintess Villas at La Samanna, built on that cliff. The family would be either outside, sailing or swimming, or inside, relaxing, or fixing dinner, or lunch or breakfast. This is just one part of a Quintess vacation that turns memory to legacy.

I have written about Quintess, Leading Residences Of The World (LRW) before on Luxist: once about the mission and vision behind this high end Destination Club, others about it's inclusion of The Tour Club and DUO by Quintess, two other clubs that have been created under Quintess aegis, this year.

Quintess,LRW is one of two ultra high end. non-equity destination clubs in existence, and, according to Ben Addoms, Founding Member and CMO, it has been a good year. October was the best sales month in over two years, and Christmas is coming! "There are over 600 members now in Quintess, LRW, The Tour Club and the newest, DUO by Quintess. Not surprisingly, in the last quarter of the year, we receive requests for memberships to be used as holiday gifts, for family members, and business associates.. The Quintess LRW, and DUO by Quintess memberships are holiday gifts that keeps on giving, certainly."

Those gifts that keep on giving are usually not cheap, and a membership in Quintess certainly isn't. From 10 to 60 days of vacation, pricing levels range from $140,000 to $525,000 membership deposit, (but 75% is returned at resignation.) But, as with those gifts also, the members receives a type of travel that becomes needed, and unforgettable.
  • The choice of any home and destination in the complete portfolio of over 80 luxury homes,on average priced at 4M in 40+ destinations around the world.
  • Travel with comprehensive travel planning with on-site Destination Hosts and a personal member relations manager who gets to know you and your family's travel needs.
  • Extended family use that allows the member to send the entire family, plus their friends, on their own club vacations, because of the ability to reserve and use 2 residences in the same destination.



Continue reading Destination Club Holiday Gifts, Part 1: A Membership in Quintess, or DUO by Quintess

Filed under: , ,

Destination Club Holiday Gifts, Part 1: A Membership in Quintess, or DUO by Quintess originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Aman ResortsAmangani ResortBaie Lounge St. MartinDestination Club QuintessDUO by QuintessElysees SpaJackson HoleLa SamannaLa Samanna QuintessNon-Equity based residence club QuintessQuintessQuintess Aspen ColoradoQuintess Memberships Christmas GiftsQuintess Napa ValleyQuintess Villa TuscanySt. Martin QuintessTerra Toscana QuintessThe Tour ClubWyoming Susan Kime Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[A Substantial Debut: In Its First Year, CityCenter Receives Two AAA Five Diamond Awards]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/03/a-substantial-debut-in-its-first-year-citycenter-receives-two/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/03/a-substantial-debut-in-its-first-year-citycenter-receives-two/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/12/03/a-substantial-debut-in-its-first-year-citycenter-receives-two/#comments
Aria Hotel & Casino, CityCenter, Las Vegas

It seems hard to believe that CityCenter has been in operation only a year, but in that year it has received awards as noted below. The most recent and most unusual In its first year, is the AAA Five Diamond Award(R) for both ARIA Resort & Casino and Mandarin Oriental, The award is usually given to a few select properties deemed the finest in North America, but it is highly unusual for hotels to attain this rating within the first year of operation. The AAA Five Diamond Award winners make up just 0.27 percent of the rated venues throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Bobby Baldwin, CityCenter's President and CEO, said, "From inception to operation, our goal with CityCenter was to create a resort destination that provides guests with services and amenities unmatched in the world. To receive this honor in our first year, reflects our commitment to this promise. It is a great first anniversary gift."

This is not the Aria's first significant award. ARIA is the largest LEED(R) Gold certified building in the world. In addition to the AAA Five Diamond Award, in its debut year, ARIA has received multiple accolades including: Travel + Leisure's Top 20 Up-and-Coming Hotels in the World, 2010 Global Vision Award; Conde Nast Traveler's 2010 Hot List; Elite Traveler's World's Top Hotel Suites; Esquire's Best New Restaurants for 2010, Top 11 Restaurants Not To Miss; Food & Wine's Las Vegas' Best Bets, Go List 2010, 100 Best New Food & Drink Experiences; MSN's Top 10 New Dining Destinations; Entrepreneur's Best Business Bars; US Airways Magazine's Top 15 Coolest Hotels in U.S.

Continue reading A Substantial Debut: In Its First Year, CityCenter Receives Two AAA Five Diamond Awards

Filed under: ,

A Substantial Debut: In Its First Year, CityCenter Receives Two AAA Five Diamond Awards originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> citycenterCityCenter Las Vegaslas vegas hotelslas vegas stripLEED Susan Kime Fri, 03 Dec 2010 08:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[For The Disorganized And The Hyper-Organized: A Product From Porsche Design: The Lean BriefBag Brings Order To The Workplace]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/30/for-the-disorganized-a-product-from-porsche-design-the-lean-br/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/30/for-the-disorganized-a-product-from-porsche-design-the-lean-br/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/30/for-the-disorganized-a-product-from-porsche-design-the-lean-br/#comments

Here is another product from Porsche Design in Zell am See, Austria. Originally created for Porsche Design business consultants, who must be the most organized people on earth, this product became accessible to the rest of us just last week. The price is $570.00, and this is without the VAT tax, which in Germany, runs between 7-19% of the total price --a bargain for people whose briefcases are repositories for odd receipts, napkins, gum wrappers, and the like.

Called the Porsche Design P2150 2.2 Lean BriefBag, it was created on the lean management principle, whose goal is avoid all kinds of wasted space. In this case, the idea is to allow only what is actually needed to be placed inside the BriefBag. My long-deceased grandmother always used to say, A place for everything, and everything in its place. Had she been alive today, she might have worked for The Porsche Design studio, because if anything defines their lean principle, this old saying does.

Continue reading For The Disorganized And The Hyper-Organized: A Product From Porsche Design: The Lean BriefBag Brings Order To The Workplace

Filed under: ,

For The Disorganized And The Hyper-Organized: A Product From Porsche Design: The Lean BriefBag Brings Order To The Workplace originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> briefcaseholiday giftsholiday gifts for menluxury briefcaseP2150 Roadster 2.2. Lean BriefBagPorsche BriefcasesPorsche Consultingporsche designPorsche Design lean BriefBagPorsche Design StudioPorsche Luggage Susan Kime Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Good News For The Vacation Homeless: Luxury Membership Options Emerge Following The Ultimate Escapes Bankruptcy]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/30/good-news-for-the-vacation-homeless-luxury-membership-options-e/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/30/good-news-for-the-vacation-homeless-luxury-membership-options-e/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/30/good-news-for-the-vacation-homeless-luxury-membership-options-e/#comments
Demeure's Borgo De Vagli residence, Tuscany

For those of us who have followed the fallout from the Ultimate Escapes bankruptcy, it has been a bumpy ride. I have written about this bankruptcy before on Luxist, but here is a small refresher précis.

Ultimate Escapes was a high end, luxury, non-equity based destination club, and the second largest in the industry. Members paid between $150,000 and $800,000 membership deposit, and many thousands more in annual dues. For those fees, they took vacations to exotic places and stay in exceptional residences, villas and condos. There were over 1400 members when the club bankrupted in mid-September, 2010. It was then the fifth major bankruptcy in five years for the non-equity destination club space. Prior to Ultimate escapes was Tanner & Haley, Lusso, High Country Club, Solstice, and now this. For members, industry watchers and many others, this bankruptcy began a serious re-thinking process. What is the matter?

As with many complex problems, this one appeared easy to solve. Many believed it was the non-equity model on which literally all of the bankrupted clubs were based, and in part, but only in part, it was. The first generation non-equity model was broadly based on a kind of Wild West 2004-2008 YAHOO-type optimism: clubs will certainly grow if -- real estate values would appreciate, and if members continued to join. If this growth hormone were in place, and why shouldn't it be?.. then the members will receive what was promised to them: 80% of their deposits back upon resignation from the club, and the 3 in 1 out option borrowed from the timeshare industry: If three new members joined, you could resign. Simple. Seemed so reasonable in those pre-Madoff times.

And because it seemed so reasonable, and times were so optimistic, many clubs bought properties and others were leased when prices were at an all-time high. Then, suddenly, in October of 2008, the perfect storm appeared: real estate values declined, Bear Stearns and Lehman Bros. deflated. But no matter what, lenders wanted mortgage payments and lessors wanted their rent. With these occurrences, the first generation club model looked like a house of cards, easily toppled by the dark winds of a collapsing economy and potential members' deciding against joining any club, even, as one member said to me, "a church group." Thus, with this last bankruptcy, following much the same process as the others, many felt this was the last gasp for the non-equity based club.

BUT! The model is not dead: it is evolving....

Continue reading Good News For The Vacation Homeless: Luxury Membership Options Emerge Following The Ultimate Escapes Bankruptcy

Filed under:

Good News For The Vacation Homeless: Luxury Membership Options Emerge Following The Ultimate Escapes Bankruptcy originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Abercrombie Kent Residence ClubBoundless JourneysDemeure ClubDestination ClubDUO by QuintessExclusive ResortsPost Ultimate escapes BankruptcyQuintessSecond Home DestinationsUltimate escapes bankruptcy Susan Kime Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[The Cisco ūmi Telepresence Present: Combining Real High Tech With Virtual High Touch]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/23/the-cisco-mi-telepresence-present-combining-real-high-tech-wit/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/23/the-cisco-mi-telepresence-present-combining-real-high-tech-wit/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/23/the-cisco-mi-telepresence-present-combining-real-high-tech-wit/#comments
2010 has been a big year for Cisco, a major supplier of voice and unified communications systems for business, Cisco recently introduced Cisco ūmi ( pronouced you-me) Telepresence, a consumer product now available to demo and purchase in all BestBuy/ Magnolia Home Theater stores across the country.

For those of us who have used various other video chat formats to keep in contact with our families, we know the problems involved. Sometimes the connection is lost, or family members have odd coloration, or sometimes they are deeply blurred. These things cause enormous frustration, instead of happiness at seeing and communicating with children and grandchildren who live far away.

But Cisco ūmi Telepresence is the first product of its kind that helps with these problems, as it connects to an existing HD television and a broadband internet connection, to create a virtual, high touch-immersive video experience. Telepresence umi is the consumer component of a network of business collaboration techonolgies Cisco has introduced throughout 2009-2010. Their Telepresence for business has been enormously successful, as it enhances all aspects of high definition business video conferencing. It was an understandable next step, then, for Cisco to create a more intimate kind of video conferencing and human interaction: no CEOs or CFOs, but rather with families, children, and grandchildren. A similar technology, a different demographic.

The Cisco ūmi Telepresence system includes an HD camera, a console and a remote, and can automatically adjust to lighting conditions and room sizes. Once Cisco ūmi is connected to an HD television and a wired or wireless broadband connection, a remote control provides access to an on-screen user interface, through which users can make ūmi calls, access video messages, manage contacts, and customize their profile and settings. Users can also record their own ūmi videos, which they can share on Facebook[TM], on YouTube[TM], or via email. Users can even keep in touch with people who don't have ūmi by placing and receiving video calls from any computer with a webcam and Google video chat.

"Cisco is bringing people together, driving new video experiences that change the way we communicate, connect, and enjoy entertainment - in the home, at work, and on the go," said John Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco. "Cisco ūmi will bring the unique Telepresence experience into living rooms and change the way we are able to be together with family and friends. We envision a future where technologies like this will play a role in connecting consumers with businesses to enable the delivery of new services, ranging from education, to health care, to financial services - to the home."

Continue reading The Cisco ūmi Telepresence Present: Combining Real High Tech With Virtual High Touch

Filed under: ,

The Cisco ūmi Telepresence Present: Combining Real High Tech With Virtual High Touch originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Best BuyCisco SystemsCisco Systems Emerging TechnologiesCisco umiCisco umi Telepresenceinteractive video conferencing systemsMagnolia Home Theater StoresTelepresence Susan Kime Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[The Answer To The Yearly Christmas Shopping Dilemma: What to Buy For That Millionaire Next Door --The Porsche Design/Harrods Advent Calendar]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/22/the-answer-to-the-yearly-christmas-shopping-dilemma-what-to-buy/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/22/the-answer-to-the-yearly-christmas-shopping-dilemma-what-to-buy/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/22/the-answer-to-the-yearly-christmas-shopping-dilemma-what-to-buy/#comments

Those who have grown up with Christian traditions have seen Advent Calendars -- coming out prior to Thanksgiving, usually in stores and shops that want to get Christmas decor underway, sometimes even before Hallowe'en. Many of these calendars take the form of large rectangular cards with 24 "windows", one of which is opened every day during Advent. Each window opens to reveal an image, a poem, or part of a story such as the Nativity story itself. More elaborate Advent Calendars have a small gift concealed in each window, such as a toy or a chocolate item.

Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming") is a season observed in many Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday. Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25th. This year, Advent begins on November 28th. And this year, the humble Advent Calendar idea has certainly received a new, high end interpretation ( see above) from the Porsche Design Group and Harrods of London. It costs $1,000,000 USD.









Continue reading The Answer To The Yearly Christmas Shopping Dilemma: What to Buy For That Millionaire Next Door --The Porsche Design/Harrods Advent Calendar

The Answer To The Yearly Christmas Shopping Dilemma: What to Buy For That Millionaire Next Door --The Porsche Design/Harrods Advent Calendar originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> HarrodsHarrods Advent calendar 2010Harrods ChristmasPorsche Design StudioPorsche designed Advent calendarPorsche designed Christmas Advent Calendar Susan Kime Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Conspicuous Leisure: A New Luxury Travel Trend?]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/18/conspicuous-leisure-a-new-travel-trend/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/18/conspicuous-leisure-a-new-travel-trend/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/18/conspicuous-leisure-a-new-travel-trend/#comments Affluent Americans today consider leisure-oriented pursuits to be more valuable than luxury goods, services and experiences, says Chris Fair, president of Resonance Consultancy, a strategic marketing organization. This trend was also underscored in the latest Luxury Institute Wealth Report newsletter of 11/15/10.

While conspicuous consumption may be on the wane, new research by the Luxury Institute, conducted in cooperation with Resonance Consultancy, suggests that conspicuous leisure is on the rise. A two-year study of affluent U.S. households' lifestyles and aspirations conducted in 2008 and again in 2010 by the Luxury Institute reveals aspirations that are in sharp contrast with popular conceptions of wealthy attitudes. The corporate titles, Ivy League educations, cars, boats, jewelry, large homes, chauffeurs, private jets, furs, art collections and wine cellars often associated with wealth were nowhere to be found near the top of wealthy Americans' most desired list. In fact, the top four of the top 10 list of the most desirable luxury items and experiences in 2010 are:

o.Taking exotic vacations
o.Vacation home in the mountains or at the beach
o.Extended time off work
o.Freedom to work from home

Continue reading Conspicuous Leisure: A New Luxury Travel Trend?

Conspicuous Leisure: A New Luxury Travel Trend? originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> Boundless JourneysConspicuous LesiureDemeure ClubLuxury InstituteLuxury Institute Wealth NewsletterNew luxury trendsResonance ConsultancySecond Home DestinationsTed ConferencesVirginia Postrel Susan Kime Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[A New Exclusive Resorts Holiday Offer: $10,000 Gift Card To Join Before December 15th]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/15/a-new-exclusive-resorts-holiday-offer-10-000-gift-card-to-join/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/15/a-new-exclusive-resorts-holiday-offer-10-000-gift-card-to-join/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/15/a-new-exclusive-resorts-holiday-offer-10-000-gift-card-to-join/#comments
Real del Mar Residence, Exclusive Resorts

Members of Exclusive Resorts, the world's largest destination club, have long enjoyed a substantial list of white glove services over the years as part of their membership. With the holidays coming closer, Exclusive Resorts is rewarding new members who join before December 15, 2010 with even more services -- by giving them a $10,000 gift card to be used for private chefs, spa treatments, customized excursions, tee times, and more.

This offer is one that might tempt Ultimate Escapes members, as their club bankrupted in September. I have written about this bankruptcy on Luxist before. The members of this club, around 1400, have since received many offers from Demeure, Duo byQuintess and others. Though the $10,000 Exclusive Resorts offer is not specific to Ultimate Escapes members, it may provide more incentive for those who are not yet committed to any club or Villa rental service, and who still are searching for a destination club to join. Since their inception, Exclusive Resorts has maintained a membership satisfaction score in excess of 90% every year, demonstrating the care taken with each member.

Also, despite the poor state of the economy, Exclusive Resorts exceeded many of their goals for 2010, in terms of new membership sales. When the year began, Chairman Steve Case appeared on CNBC and said that a "decent" year was expected for the club. Since then, Exclusive Resorts has sold well over 150 new memberships YTD, with over 100 upgrades from current members. They have also executed their 100,000th vacation this year.

From the business side of the equation, Exclusive Resorts has also spent much of 2010 on reducing costs, an initiative that has them at or under budget for all major cost categories. Last December, Exclusive Resorts finished 2009 with their best sales month of the year. With this intriguing $10,000 incentive, 2010 may be just as lucrative.

Luxist is grateful to Destination Club News for referring this story to us.

Continue reading A New Exclusive Resorts Holiday Offer: $10,000 Gift Card To Join Before December 15th

Filed under:

A New Exclusive Resorts Holiday Offer: $10,000 Gift Card To Join Before December 15th originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> DemeureDestination Club Newsdestination club offersDuo by QuintessExclusive ResortsSteve CaseUltimate Escapes Bankruptcy Susan Kime Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:06:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[What's Happening In The Luxury Market? The Latest Research Provides Contradictory Clues]]> http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/08/whats-happening-in-the-luxury-market-the-latest-research-provi/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/08/whats-happening-in-the-luxury-market-the-latest-research-provi/ http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/08/whats-happening-in-the-luxury-market-the-latest-research-provi/#comments I have written before on luxury trends derived from American Affluence Center's substantive research. Twice a year, this group publishes a detailed summary of the state of the luxury bandwidth. I discussed the Spring 2010's results, and below are those of Fall 2010. Not dismal, but still, fiscal security and happiness seem like distant visions. Here are a few highlights of the Fall 2010 Affluent Market Tracking Study, #18, as well as some controversial results from Unity Marketing, and Bain & Co. These results and trends are diverse, arguable, and contradictory, pretty much mirroring the state of our economy right now.

The American Affluence Center's report is based on the responses from 439 men and women who promptly responded to their survey and meet the minimum net worth requirement of $800,000. Their households have an average annual income of $290,000, an average net worth of $3.1 million, average investable assets of $1.7 million, and an average primary residence value of $1.1 million. The underlining below is mine, which may define an important future trend.

o. The index for future business conditions is 22 points below the prior Spring survey index and 30 points below the Fall 2009 survey. Given the low rating of current business conditions, this future index is relatively negative, as it reflects an expectation of limited improvement from a poor starting point.

o. The index for change in the stock market is 14 points below the prior Spring survey index and 33 points below the Fall 2009 survey. The current index reflects a 3 point decline in the "higher" rating and a 12 point increase in the "lower" rating. The "same" rating was 8 points lower. These ratings seem to suggest an expectation that the market will be largely unchanged 12 months out.

Continue reading What's Happening In The Luxury Market? The Latest Research Provides Contradictory Clues

Filed under: ,

What's Happening In The Luxury Market? The Latest Research Provides Contradictory Clues originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> American Affluence reserach CenterBain Co.Last Call brandLUXURY GOODS WORLDWIDE MARKET STUDYLuxury Marketing Councilluxury trends 2010luxury trends 2011MillennialsNeiman MarcusPam DanzigerUnity Marketing Susan Kime Mon, 08 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST Luxist