Luxury Travel

There are so many parallels between the luxury fashion and travel industries. Consolidation in both is bringing challenges as well as opportunities.

Through a new venture with KSL Capital Partners, Aspen Skiing Company (Skico) is broadening its scope far beyond Colorado. But it's not only about amassing mountains. Skico is concentrating on building a new boutique hotel brand, which is raising eyebrows in its newest destination.

Fashion has in many ways been steps ahead of travel when it comes to Web design, online engagement and marketing prowess — but there is still so far to go for luxury brands in both industries.

The success of this, and all brand partnerships, is dependent on a synergistic approach to luxury whether that be sleek and understated or bold and brash. We expect to see more cross-industry partnerships emerge as brands wrestle for the attention and trust of the new luxury consumer.

For years, Baltimore has been portrayed on television and other media outlets as a city that's down on its luck. But a close look at what's happening in terms of investment in the city's luxury space reveals another side of the story.

A true test of any business is how they cope when things go wrong. This is especially true when it's out of their control. Hotels hit by the recent hurricanes will have learned plenty of lessons from their varied experiences.

While soft brands aren’t a new phenomenon, the big hotel companies seem keener on them than ever. They may not represent a direct threat to luxury hotel collections but they increase the competition when it comes to wooing owners.

It's not if you get knocked down, but how you get up that matters. Not only do hospitality teams have the opportunity to provide guests with shelter and stability, but they can expand their impact throughout their local communities highlighting the strength and potential for our sector to be force of good.

Luxury spas need to understand that because many millennials are already incorporating wellness into their everyday routine, they need something from high-end destinations. It might seem trite to highlight avocados but today's under-35s value food above almost everything else.

Although women are particularly well-positioned to lead in the nuanced luxury market, it will take the effort and collaboration of men and women already within the industry to bring about change and more equal leadership teams.