Samantha Shankman

It is said the future of luxury lies at the intersection of luxury and fashion, a nexus attractive to Chinese consumers who are still driven by brands and status in making purchase decisions.

Craft cocktail culture is based on the same principles driving change in the luxury hospitality world today: consumers’ desires for best-quality ingredients, a curated sense of place, and staff conscious of (and connected to) the local scene.

What appear to be simple marketing schemes are in fact thoughtful curations that have the double effect of attracting new customers and, if executed correctly, their return. Happy children mean happy parents and there's no better way to secure another booking.

Belize should serve as a case study for conscious luxury development. There will be successes and lessons to watch for in the coming years as the effects of a small group of hoteliers' decisions play out in the local environment and culture.

Any luxury industry experiencing an uptick in new, affluent young customers has a right to be bullish about growth, but it is a combination of logistics, customer service and branding that will eventually set the winners apart from the other players.

Education delivered directly from local communities, and informed by tradition, is what distinguishes immersion from appropriation. It's the job of luxury professionals to facilitate the experience without adding the influence of their own lens.

Forget millennials. It's their parents who have the money and time to sign up for luxury experiences around the globe. With the aid of digital communications, going alone no longer feels like tragedy but an asset.

Opening culinary operations on farm grounds can be a risk, but -- when done well -- minimizes costs, lessens waste, and furthers consumers' dedication to local, ethically sourced cuisine.

The fine dining industry is slowly transforming diners' consciousness and relationships with local producers -- an evolution that has the potential to shift local economies in a powerful way if done well.

An expanding definition of wellness experiences that includes self-actualization and adventure as much as farm-fresh meals and sophisticated spa treatments is positioning African destinations and operators to become the next leaders in the luxury wellness travel market.