So far, the Group’s footprint in Africa has grown to nearly 100 hotels in operation and development, placing it well on track to reach its goal of 150 hotels within the next five years and further establishing it as the hotel company with the largest market presence in Africa.

In Nigeria, Radisson Hotel Group continues to hold a leading position with a portfolio of 13 hotels in operation and under development, including five new hotels signed in 2023. The new signing of the Radisson RED Hotel Abuja has further bolstered the Group’s presence in the city, bringing the total number of hotels under development in Abuja to four.

Over in Morocco, the Group has pursued the same efforts with a clear transformation plan, growing its presence from one hotel in 2020 to over nine hotels in operation and four hotels in development currently. Casablanca represents a strategic hub among multiple continents, and the new signing of Radisson Blu Hotel & Apartments Casablanca Finance City and Radisson RED Hotel Casablanca Finance City solidifies the Group’s ambitions to reach over 25 hotels by 2030 across the country.

Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President, Development, Africa and Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group, said, “The seven new hotels align with our expansion strategy, demonstrating significant growth in key African markets such as Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia and Ethiopia as well as our highly anticipated debut in Tanzania. These hotels also highlight our conversion strategy and our commitment to diversifying our portfolio by introducing new brands and cementing our presence in these important markets.”

Here’s everything we know about all seven hotel signings

Radisson Blu Hotel & Apartments, Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)

Marking the Group’s debut in Tanzania, this 138-room hotel, featuring 94 guestrooms and 44 three-bedroom apartments, is set to open in 2025 as part of a mixed-use development in Dar es Salaam’s CBD. The hotel will occupy the top 14 floors of a 33-floor tower, one of the tallest buildings in the area, and is within walking distance of the ferry terminal to Zanzibar Island.

The hotel will offer a diverse array of dining facilities, including a lobby café, business class lounge, all-day dining restaurant, speciality restaurant, outdoor pool, and pool restaurant. Additional amenities include retail stores, a ladies’ salon, indoor parking, a gym, a steam room and sauna, a kids’ playroom, and eight meeting rooms.

Radisson Hotel Mwanza (Tanzania)

Supporting a strong market entry, this 196-room hotel currently under construction will launch the Radisson brand in Tanzania in 2025. Mwanza, Tanzania’s second-largest city, is renowned for corporate meetings and events and is the ideal starting point for tours to the Serengeti National Park. As the only branded hotel in Mwanza, it will feature a lobby café and bar, an all-day dining restaurant, sports bar, outdoor pool bar, executive lounge, and two speciality restaurants: Balaustine, a ‘casual-fine dining’ experience inspired by the Barbary coast, and, the Levant and Filini, offering a delectable dining experience of fresh, simple, and delicious Italian-style cuisine.

The meetings and events space includes a triple-height ballroom, a business centre, boardrooms, and a conference room. The extensive wellness facilities will comprise a gym, spa, outdoor pool, and kids’ playground.

Radisson Blu Hotel & Apartments, Casablanca Finance City, and, Radisson RED Casablanca Finance City (Morocco)

Enhancing the Group’s Moroccan portfolio – which currently includes eleven hotels in operation and under development – is the addition of two new branded hotels and a serviced apartment. These new builds, including the first Radisson RED hotel in North Africa, will feature a total of 381 rooms and are set to open in late 2027. They will be located in Casa Anfa, at the heart of Casablanca Finance City, the city’s new financial hub, recognized as Africa’s leading financial centre, on par with London and La Défense in Paris.

Providing guests with an array of dining and wellness facilities for an ideal stay, the Radisson Blu will offer guests an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality rooftop restaurant, and a rooftop bar. Meanwhile, the Radisson RED hotel will include a restaurant and a pool bar. At the Radisson Blu’s wellness facilities, expect a spa, a fitness centre, and an outdoor rooftop swimming pool. The Radisson RED will have nearly the same features with a fitness centre, an outdoor pool and a rooftop swimming pool.

For meetings and events, in addition to the five meeting rooms at the Radisson Blu, there will be a 1,100-square-meter conference centre comprising an auditorium, a large ballroom and three meeting rooms, making the complex the future meeting destination.

Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Tunis (Tunisia)

This 305-room hotel, a conversion of an existing property, will soon premiere the Radisson Blu brand in Tunis, complementing the Group’s footprint in Tunisia as its seventh hotel in the country and fourth in Tunis. Located just ten minutes from the airport, the hotel will come equipped with dining outlets such as a lobby bar, shisha bar, all-day dining restaurant, and three speciality restaurants.

The expansive convention centre will include multiple meeting rooms, boardrooms, a VIP room, an executive lounge, a business centre, and a 1,400 sqm ballroom, making it the largest conference centre in the city.

Radisson RED Abuja (Nigeria)

The 105-room hotel, set to open in 2028, will be Radisson Hotel Group’s 13th property in Nigeria and the second Radisson RED in the country, introducing the upper upscale brand to Abuja. Located in Wuse, Abuja’s main commercial and social district, the hotel will be surrounded by corporate offices, popular estates, shopping malls, and nightlife venues. The hotel will feature a bar and terrace, an all-day dining restaurant, and a pool bar and grill. It will also offer 238 square meters of meeting space, including three meeting rooms, a pre-function area, and a fitness facility.

Park Inn by Radisson Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)

Scheduled to open in 2025, this 120-room hotel will be the Group’s third hotel in Ethiopia, all located in Addis Ababa and will introduce the Park Inn by Radisson brand to the country. Dining options will include a breakfast hall, restaurant hall, coffee shop, and four soft drink bars. The meeting and events space will consist of a large and medium conference room and four meeting rooms. Guests can also enjoy two gyms, a spa, a business centre, sports facilities, a kids’ entertainment area, a retail space, and a co-working space.

Since 2022, the Group has opened a total of 14 hotels, including the debut of the Radisson brand in Morocco (Radisson Hotel Casablanca Gauthier La Citadelle) and Tunis (Radisson Hotel Tunis City Center). These openings have diversified the Group’s portfolio with the first safari hotel in Africa, Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit; the first resort in Livingstone, Radisson Blu Resort Mosi-oa-Tunya, and, the debut in Reunion Island with Radisson Hotel Saint-Denis. This achievement has set a record for the Group in terms of realizing its pipeline into openings, translating into a commendable 15 per cent annual net operating growth in its African portfolio.

“With a strong first half of the year, we plan to continue the momentum in the second half by focusing on expanding our presence in key markets such as Morocco and South Africa, where we’ve recently announced our ambition to reach 25 hotels by 2030, doubling the portfolio in both countries. We thank each of our partners for their valued trust in us and our brands,” concluded Rankoussi.

The post From Tunisia To Tanzania, Radisson is Growing Its Footprint in Africa first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post From Tunisia To Tanzania, Radisson is Growing Its Footprint in Africa appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Now that we’ve put your worries to rest (hopefully!), here’s our list of some of the top luxury lodgings in Morocco worth checking out. Each has been picked for different reasons, and, even if you choose not to stay in any of them when you do visit Morocco, we hope that the things that stood out to us guide you in your final choice(s).

Luxury Riads

The Royal Mansour, Marrakech

If you have heard of the Hassan II Mosque, you’ve most likely heard of the Royal Mansour, Marrakech, and for good reason.

Like every other establishment on this list, the hotel reflects the intricate craftsmanship of traditional Moroccan artisans and includes local materials and designs – but this is about where the similarities end. Instead of suites and villas, the Royal Mansour Marrakech features private riads complete with private terraces (that come with retractable glass roofs in case it rains) and plunge pools. The 2,3 and 4-bedroom riads come with a dedicated butler, while the Prestige and Grand riads (3 and 4-bedroom apartments) have a private hammam and adjoining elevators.

With four restaurants offering French, Moroccan, Spanish, Asian and Mediterranean dishes,  dining at The Royal Mansour, Marrakech is not a problem. And with all the services and amenities available at the hotel, a stay there is just as unique an experience as a day exploring the surrounding medina.

Le Riad Yasmine

If 53 riads in one place sound like a lot to you, and you crave a deeper connection to Moroccan culture, then Le Riad Yasmine, an 8-riad boutique hotel located right in the centre of the medina should be just about right for you.

The riads do not feature traditional Moroccan decor with frescoes and intricate floor, wall, and ceiling designs, but, several traditional Moroccan architectural elements abound. Most of the rooms can take 2-3 guests, but if you’re travelling with a large party, you can check out the family riad or Le Petite Yasmine, next door to Le Riad Yasmine.

An onsite kitchen would take care of meals, but, since you will be in the heart of the medina, then you would have a wide option of meals literally at your fingertips.

Luxury Hotels

Sofitel, Casablanca

Casablanca is considered by many as being the modern heart of Morocco, and, because it is such a huge melting pot of different cultures, it is a great starting point for your Morocco exploration. And, for accommodation, the Sofitel Tour Blanche (white tower) is exactly the right fit for you.

Located strategically in the heart of the city, the Sofitel is a 24-floor chic and contemporary lodging with all the luxuries you’d expect from a hotel of this calibre. It is also close to all the the famous tourist destinations that abound in Casablanca like the Hassan II Mosque and the Medina, but, should you choose to stay in all day, you still have access to amenities that would make your stay as interesting as a full day out. One of these is the Sofitel Spa which occupies 2 floors and has a hot tub, a traditional-style hammam and a sauna, and, offers beauty and massage treatments combining French and Moroccan beauty practices.

For a taste of Lebanese cuisine, you can dine at the hotel’s L’Atelier Oriental. The second restaurant, the Brasserie La Tour,  offers French cuisine. For a more delightful experience however, guests can go up to the rooftop bar on the 24^th floor from where they will experience a panoramic view of the Old Medina and the Hassan II Mosque.

Hilton Tangier

The city of Tangier retains more of the soul of ancient Morocco, and its culture and traditions are very much alive in this city. So, it may feel rather inauthentic to opt for a hotel instead of an opulent riad. However, the Hilton Tangier City Centre, while being a part of a global brand, is as Moroccan in its service and decor as it gets.

This luxury hotel is strategically located in the city of Tangier, opposite La Gare Tangier Ville (the Tangier rail station) and facing the Malabata beachfront.  Stepping into the Hilton is like entering into a luxe Moroccan home. Expect a warm traditional welcome upon arrival with a serving of the ubiquitous Moroccan mint tea alongside indigenous sweets and treats on a platter by men dressed in traditional male attire. Rooms are tastefully furnished, and of course, reflect the general architecture and style of the local region.

For food, a range of delicious meals abound to suit every palette. However, if nothing on the menu is to your taste — which frankly, is highly unlikely — the unique location of the Hilton Tanger City Centre makes it easy to get whatever you need within walking distance.

A rooftop pool, an executive lounge, a fully-fitted gym and access to the beach make this Hilton hotel in Tangier the place to be if you would be visiting the city.

Luxury Kasbahs

Kasbah Tamadot, Atlas Mountains

Situated an hour away from Marrakech in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, Kasbah Tamadot, a private resort that is part of Sir Ricard Branson’s Virgin Limited Collection is where you’d want to be if you seek a dreamy, surreal and quiet vacation somewhere removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Kasbah Tamadot consists of rooms, suites, tents and riads that are uniquely decorated and combine typical Moroccan style with hints of minimalism. however, following the September 2023 earthquake, the rooms and suites have been closed for renovation and only the six 3-bedroom riads and ten Berber-styled tents are available.

There are a host of activities to indulge in during your stay, including learning to make Morocco’s famous tagines, hiking the mountains and a relaxing day at the spa. Chefs are at hand to serve a mix of Moroccan and international dishes with ingredients sourced from the resort’s gardens.

And, if you ever get tired of the resort, remember: Marrakech is just an hour away.

Dar ba Sidi Chefchouen

Chefchouen may even be more traditional than Tangier, and due to building laws, you would not find any high-rise buildings in this ancient fortress. But, whatever it may lack in grand opulence, the Dar ba Sidi resort more than makes up for in decor and other luxury amenities present in its property.

If Chefchouen is a pretty picturesque town, then Dar ba Sidi, with its beautiful flower gardens, its blue, cream and white colour scheme and red-topped roofs, and, its very traditional Moroccan decor and ambience is a truly beautiful sight to behold. Adding to its charm are the comfortable and spacious, traditionally designed rooms whose windows open up to the most glorious sights ever.

An onsite restaurant serving Moroccan cuisine, and a bar offering a wide range of drinks are your options for food here, but, its proximity to the city centre means that your epicurean choices are not limited if you are looking for something more than what’s available on the menu.

The Oberoi, Marrakech

Ok, The Oberoi may not regard itself as a kasbah, but, if any establishment here deserves the title of a luxury fortress, it is this stunning hotel.

From the moment the doors of The Oberoi are flung open upon your arrival, to the moment you step foot onto its majestic, lush, green courtyard, to that exact period when you’re swallowed into the cool refreshing warmth of its lobby, adorned and accented with traditional Moroccan designs and objets, and then, ushered into your opulent suite tastefully furnished with everything the finest accommodations have to offer, the sensory experience you’d be enveloped in can only be described as heavenly.

Once you step into your suite – apparently, there are no rooms in The Oberoi Marrakech – expect a handwritten note from the General Manager welcoming you to the hotel as well as a bottle of wine. The hotel has a total of 84 lodgings, 72 of which are villas with private pools. Each villa is massive, with a closet area that is equipped with a picnic basket, hats and an iron; a bathroom with a soaking tub that has views of the lush greenery outside; a large walk-in shower that connects to the pool outside so that you can take a shower after a day out swimming or lounging, and, a bedroom with a good-sized comfortable bed, an armoire housing the minibar, with a sofa, occasional chair and a separate dining table/workspace for two. There are also bathrobes and toiletries by Anne Semonine of Paris, and its exceptional service means that anything that was somehow missed would be provided immediately upon request.

The Siniman, Tamimt and Azur restaurants are on hand for your gastronomic needs, whether you crave local Moroccan dishes or meals from other parts of the world. The Vue bar opens from late afternoon into the evening for drinks or light snacks. Several in-house experiences, from a morning run with a fitness coach to sunrise yoga, cardio boxing and nature trail walks mean that you’d still stay in shape regardless of what you consume during your vacation.

Complimentary bicycles and a shuttle service are available for exploring the city but, because The Oberoi isn’t too far, you might prefer a brisk walk to the medina. We daresay that choosing to stay at the hotel during your vacation may single-handedly be the decision you can make if you are visiting Marrakech. That is, if you will not be staying at The Royal Mansour.

Luxury Tents

Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp

Don’t fancy a vacation in the city? Morocco is one of the countries of the Sahara, so a desert vacation just might be a great idea to explore.

Now, simply because you are taking your vacation to the desert doesn’t translate to zero luxury hotels or lodgings. If you are looking for a place to stay, look no further than the Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp. Situated in the dunes of the Erg Chebbi, the Khaimas tents, so-called because they are made from camel skin, promise an authentic desert experience without sacrificing all the luxuries you’re accustomed to. You will get to enjoy activities like camel riding, sandboarding, hiking up the highest dune, and, watching the sunset once you’re up.

Meals are traditional Moroccan cuisine, but, if you’d fancy something different, you can confer with the staff to see what they can whip up.

Al Kamar Camp Erg Chigaga Luxury Desert Camp, Nick and Bobo’s

There are quite a number of luxury desert camps to choose from while in Morocco; however, what sets Nick and Bobo’s apart is their focus on sustainability and delivering an authentic desert experience. Per the camp’s website, “Chigaga is not a mainstream destination. It appeals to those seeking adventure, something unique, something off-grid.”

There are three types of tents, each offering different levels of privacy but all the same size. The most exclusive is the private nomadic camp,  but the private camp with five tents can also be exclusively booked for a family or a small group. Expect to enjoy stunning views of the desert, as well as other carefully curated activities that include visiting the desert tribes and guided walks along quiet sandy paths.

Morocco’s luxury lodging scene is as diverse as the landscapes that define this enchanting country. From the heart of bustling medinas to the serene expanse of the Sahara, there is no shortage of exquisite options to suit every taste. Whether you seek the opulence of renowned hotel chains, the authenticity of traditional riads, the seclusion of kasbahs, or the adventure of luxury desert camps, Morocco promises a unique and unforgettable experience.

As you plan your journey to the Kingdom of Light, let these exceptional accommodations be your sanctuary, ensuring that every moment spent in this beautiful country is nothing short of magical. So, pack your bags, embark on your Moroccan adventure, and let the splendour of these luxurious retreats enhance your stay.

The post Visiting Morocco? Take a Look at Some of the Best Hotels to Stay first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Visiting Morocco? Take a Look at Some of the Best Hotels to Stay appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Both the Seamaster Diver and Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024 special edition models share certain similar characteristics. For one, they all feature the colours of the 2024 Olympics which are black, gold and white. Also, the case back on all the models is closed and frosted to showcase the 2024 Paris logo and Olympic rings.

But that is about as similar as both the Seamaster and the Speedmaster will get.

The Seamaster Diver is a 42mm stainless steel affair that contrasts rather nicely with its Moonshine Gold bezel (Moonshine Gold being the proprietory yellow gold alloy of Omega that it says is more resistant to fading and lustre) and blends beautifully with its white ceramic dial that includes polished waves in positive relief and the official Paris 2024 Paris typography in black.

The Speedmaster Chronoscope on the other hand is offered in either Moonshine Gold or in classic stainless steel casebacks. The first, a full Moonshine Gold model affixed to an equally full gold bracelet, features a white opaline dial with black subdials and a contrasting black ceramic bezel. A second version comes affixed to black calfskin leather.

Also in this mini-collection is a stunning stainless steel variant that is very much like its gold cousin, the only difference being its stainless steel case back and bracelet. There is also a calfskin leather version that’s perforated with a white rubber insert.

Both the Seamaster Diver and Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024 edition timepieces come in a rather beautiful white presentation box, complete with Paris 2024 detailing that matches the Omega Countdown Clock at Port de la Bourdonnais. Prices range from $9,800 to $51,400 for the Speedmaster Chronoscope, while the Seamaster Diver costs $8,900. All can be purchased at Omega’s Paris boutiques, so, if you would be at the Games, treating yourself to one is like getting a bonafide souvenir that would last you long after the Olympics has come to an end.

The post Omega is Counting Down to The Olympics with Some of The Most Exquisite Timepieces first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Omega is Counting Down to The Olympics with Some of The Most Exquisite Timepieces appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

How it started

Caroline’s Couture first debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 with an impressive collection of 50 pieces and was modelled by the likes of Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova and Natalia Vodianova.

If you’re wondering, why fashion? Ms Scheufele has a good answer for you.

Normally, she explains, clothes from high fashion brands like Elie Saab, Dolce & Gabbana, Zuhair Murad and others were used to showcase Chopard’s Red Carpet high jewellery line during the Cannes Festival of which the jewellery brand is a sponsor. “But these dresses are often already full of precious ornaments, where the jewels are drowned out. So I started to imagine models that were less rich in the upper part and with just the right necklines to better show off my adornments,” she says.

Teaming up with Maximiliano Modesti who has been developing embroidery workshops in India including the Kalhath Institute in Lucknow, North India, which is where all of Caroline’s Couture embroidery is crafted, and, working with Fridtjov Linde as Design Director, Caroline brought her dream to life.

And to instant acclaim. “The day after the first show, a queue began to form around the models that had remained on display in the showroom, where we were presenting our Red Carpet jewellery collection. We were totally overwhelmed! It didn’t take long for the first orders to come in.” A few months after, Saks opened a dedicated pop-up for the collection in Palm Beach, bringing “us a new clientele who didn’t even know about Chopard.”

Where Caroline’s Couture is now

It’s been a year since the premier Caroline’s Couture show and Ms Scheufele is back with a slightly larger collection of 77 pieces, including a few men’s silhouettes that are slated to make their runway appearance on May 21. She has also expanded her team of creatives to include milliner Philip Treacy who will create six hats and Parisian fashion house Cifonelli who is handling the menswear with five dinner jacket silhouettes embroidered with rhinestones.

And the pieces are not just about showcasing the Maison’s jewellery and accessories in the best light. They are also a reflection of the Swiss brand’s savoir-faire in the world of haute joaillerie. For example, a long strapless sheath in aqua green is entirely embroidered with flowers and tiny stones. And there is a black suit completely covered in black sequins in a hearts motif emblematic of Chopard jewellery.

Most of the fabrics are developed exclusively for Chopard by the Comes Gentili Mosconi silk manufacturer, while the tweed is supplied by the Reggiani wool manufacturer in Piedmont. The shoes, on the other hand, are courtesy of Casadei.

Caroline is confident that the success of her fashion collection last year isn’t just beginner’s luck, as this second edition will prove. And what’s behind her confidence? Well, the fact that it appears that she has done her homework and knows who her target audience is. In her own words, pivoting to haute couture, for Chopard, “ is good business … If we stay small, it can be profitable. There’s a market for it, especially in the Middle East and India.”

So, will Caroline’s Couture by Chopard succeed where most brands have failed? From all indications, it appears that it is on the right path, and maybe other luxury brands looking to pivot can borrow points from its playbook.

The post Caroline’s Couture V2.0: Chopard is Now a full-blown Fashion Brand first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Caroline’s Couture V2.0: Chopard is Now a full-blown Fashion Brand appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The state of today’s luxury market

Mr. Dufour’s rather sharp retort makes sense, even though it sounds counterintuitive. After all, a major reason why certain luxury goods are more popular than others is simply because they are not only able to retain their value both financially and as status symbols, but they are also highly sought after years after their original release. Having such a product as part of their portfolio is also partly what keeps legacy brands in business.

But as Jean-Frédéric has pointed out, there are ‘dangerous’ consequences when consumers treat luxury items as an important part of their successful investment portfolios.

Between 2020 to 2022, the luxury market was riding on a ridiculous high. Nearly every business, from auto to fashion, lifestyle and timepiece brands, was reporting unprecedented profits, while eager buyers, unable to get their hands on newer releases, turned squarely to the secondary market. This in turn caused the prices of pre-owned goods to skyrocket, and ‘smart investors’, realising there was quick profit to be made, turned the whole situation into a Ponzi affair, buying and selling on the secondary market rapidly and driving prices even further upwards.

By 2023 however, the story began to change. Economic downturns, geopolitical turmoil from warring nations in Europe and more recently, the Middle East, and political instability among other issues caused aspirational customers and the affluent to slow down on luxury spending. Luxury retail stores that had increased their stock to accommodate the increased demand are now stuck with excess merchandise, and as for consumers who had accumulated luxury goods in the hopes of making a quick profit? Well, like the businesses, they now have to deal with products they may or may not be able to sell for a profit.

The rise of superfake luxury goods

Imitation luxury goods have existed as long as there has been a demand among consumers to flaunt a lifestyle they cannot afford. And while there is no official correlation yet, it appears that superfake luxury items – imitation luxury goods that are so close to the original that it is hard to detect at first glance – began to increase in popularity at the same time as demand for luxury goods exploded.

It does not come as a surprise. Wherever there is a high demand, there are always opportunists waiting to take advantage of those who do not know better.

Have Rolex and other luxury watches now lost their investment value?

Short answer? No.

In a recently concluded sale in Hong Kong, Sotheby’s reported that it had set two new sales records in its Important Watches I category. The first was the Patek Philippe Reference 2526 – the brand’s first self-winding wristwatch made especially for renowned collector J.B. Champion – that sold at US$729,977, while the second, a Cartier ‘Paris Cloche’, No. 1/1 quadrupled estimates to sell at US$210,882.

And this is not a standalone event. Luxury timepieces continue to sell on the secondary market at a higher value than their brand-new counterparts, just not at the same frenzied pace as during the pandemic, and definitely not at the outrageously high markup prices as two years ago.

Should you take Jean-Frédéric Dufour’s advice and not treat the Rolex – and other luxury timepieces – as a luxury investment?

Yes and no.

Yes, because, unlike stocks, they are products that have been created for everyday use, not just to have and to hold until there is a high demand for them on the secondary market.

And no, because at the end of the day, true, high-quality luxury items — if they are treated right — make great alternative investment portfolios, regardless of how the brands feel about this.

The post CEO Says The Rolex is Not A Luxury Investement. The Market says Otherwise first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post CEO Says The Rolex is Not A Luxury Investement. The Market says Otherwise appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Whichever category you fall into, there is an emerging luxury travel trend that you should perhaps take into consideration this 2024. It is the proliferation of luxury fashion hotels promising to give you all the experiences you crave in one location.

From Audemars Piguet to Louis Vuitton, luxury fashion brands are the newcomers in the hospitality industry

First, it was Audemars Piguet (in recent times of course, since luxury fashion brands like Bulgari have had their hotels for years now.) Hôtel des Horlogers opened to the public last year with the promise of eco-conscious lodgings and soundproof rooms, unobstructed views of the surrounding valley, and most importantly, easy access to the epicentre of Swiss watchmaking as well as ski resorts and other interesting sights.

Then, Louis Vuitton announced that it was transforming its Paris headquarters into a hotel and the largest LV boutique, amongst other things. There are scant details of what the hotel would look like, as well as a deadline for completion, but, with its strategic location, proximity to La Samaritaine and historical and tourist landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Notre Dame Cathedral, it is definitely the hotel for luxury travellers who want to fill their vacation with plenty activities.

But, if you would rather not wait, then the Vermelho, a 13-room boutique hotel by Christian Louboutin designed in collaboration with architect Madalena Caiado, might be perfect for you. Vermelho is the Portuguese word for red, Louboutin’s favourite colour, and although it looks simple on the outside, the inside is awash with character and maximalist details, filled with rooms that feature unique designs and antiques from the fashion designer’s collection.

Vermelho is situated in the village of Melides, Portugal’s next big beach town according to this publication. Whether you choose to go wine tasting or to immerse yourself in the nearly-unspoiled surroundings and the local cuisine, Christain Louboutin’s hotel and its location in Melides is worth a spot on your bucket list.

And if stealth luxury is your thing, then look no further than Chopard’s 1 Place Vendôme. Located above its boutique in Place Vendôme Square, the uber-luxurious hotel is big on privacy and exclusivity. When it launched on November 15 this year, it did so through high-end travel agencies and its VIP Chopard clientele because “We wanted to do things differently… In a very targeted way,” says Karl-Fritz Scheufele, third generation of the Scheufele family — owners of Chopard since 1963.

Made up of 10 suites and 5 rooms, 1 Place Vendôme wants to be an ‘anti-hotel’ that still manages to give all the traditional trappings of top luxury accommodations, down to its choice of furnishings, wall coverings and accents that are a nod to the Chopard brand itself.

Should you choose to stay at this hotel, you would have easy access to legacy luxury fashion brands like Cartier, Chaumet, Boucheron, Breguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre which are located in the Vendôme Square and can also explore other touristy locations like the Seine which is just a few minutes away.

So, whether you are looking to tick items off your bucket list, or you want to spend more meaningful time with family and friends on a different kind of vacation, these new luxury ‘fashion hotels’ are an emerging trend you may want to try out. Who knows? They just might offer you everything you are looking for in one place!

The post The Least Talked-About Luxury Travel Trend You Should Probably Explore in 2024 first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post The Least Talked-About Luxury Travel Trend You Should Probably Explore in 2024 appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Cleo Anderson is busy as always. The founder of The Anderson Media Group was recently declared the ‘Broadcast Media Host and Producer of the Year’ in the Influential Businesswoman Awards 2023, just as she wrapped up filming in St Barth – the latest location for her show on LUXE.TV, Wanderluxe with Cleo Anderson.

And she is not done. Her multiple roles as travel expert, PR guru, TV host and producer mean that she has to constantly be on the move in search of some of the most glamorous yet hidden locations in the world for her clients. Some of which are/have been Monte Carlo SBM; the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ms Anderson is the ‘Luxury Travel Curator of the Everyone Wins Goodie Bag’ dished out to the top 25 Oscar nominees each year), and now, LUXE.TV.

We caught up with Cleo in between her travels to talk about her work and views on luxury travel, amongst other things.

In Conversation with Cleo Anderson begins now …

ALM: Why have you declared St Barth the ‘world’s most luxurious island?’

CA: St Barth is such an iconic location and has a long history of attracting those who love laid-back chic as well as the jet set – it really is a jewel of the French Caribbean. The island is lush with nature and beautiful beaches, but you also have fantastic shopping in Gustavia and some really wonderful iconic landmarks in terms of eating out and places to stay.

In the show (Wanderluxe with Cleo Anderson) we featured three stunning villas courtesy of Saint-Barth Paradise. I enjoyed dinner and drinks at Eden Rock, and I spent some amazing hours on some of the landmark beaches. Filming there really was a fantastic experience and I will no doubt visit again soon.

ALM: What, in your opinion, do you think luxury hospitality brands get wrong about what the 1% need in a vacation spot?

CA: I think the thing most people get wrong is what great customer service and attention to detail really is, because, for me, there are most definitely levels to it.

Often in hospitality, people think they are giving personal service by being polite – perhaps remembering your name – but they are not really seeing you or listening in any meaningful way. For me, what makes the difference is not just noticing a client or being polite, but actually acting on what you have noticed in a significant way.

One example of great customer service was during a recent visit to the Four Seasons Sultanahmet in Istanbul. I really couldn’t decide between sorbet or chocolate for dessert during a meal. I chose the sorbet and after I finished my meal, I realised that I was still craving chocolate. I playfully lamented my decision to my wonderfully attentive server and, to my surprise, he returned with a couple of pieces of gourmet chocolate – on the house. It is these personalised touches that truly make an experience special and memorable, and making a client feel seen where many servers would have simply sympathised politely and brought me my bill. That feeling of really feeling ‘seen’ and catered to is what I think the 1% is looking for.

ALM: What are some emerging trends in luxury travel that should be talked about more?

CA: Obviously artificial intelligence (AI) is a big conversation right now: in terms of luxury travel, that equates to more detailed hotel booking where you can customise room size and check-in times, for example. Face recognition and voice recognition at airports for added security will become more prevalent, I believe. I also feel that luxury trains will become more popular – this is something that I’m really interested in, and I’m currently planning a couple of epic train trips in both Europe and North America. I’m looking forward to these unique experiences.

ALM: What, so far, are your favourite vacation spots and why?

CA: Athens is a favourite — I really enjoy places that have a sense of history to immerse myself in, and Athens has historical landmarks that you can see from almost every vantage point in the city. Juxtaposed with that you have the Athens Riviera. It’s very close to the city centre but is also a stunning beach destination that many don’t really know about.

I loved Miami, it has a South American vibe in terms of the music, food, colours, and beautiful weather. It is a really fun spot to go to with a group of friends.

Borneo was a wonderful destination to explore, as I am big on nature and wildlife. Tracking in the rainforest and searching for Orangutans was really beautiful.

The Maldives is another favourite spot. I love being surrounded by water, and the colour of the Indian Ocean is magnificent. I loved being in an overwater bungalow: at night you can feel the bungalow swaying in the water. Being there feels decadent [because] you have space and time to deeply relax.

ALM: What are some vacation spots that are best visited alone in your opinion? Which ones are best visited in company with others?

CA: For me, when it comes to city breaks I actually enjoy doing them alone. You can do your own thing and discover museums and hidden gems on foot and at your own pace. Athens, Barcelona, Lisbon and Rome are all great for getaways like that. Then the party places, like Miami and Tokyo, are wonderful to do with company as your senses are heightened and there are just so many things to do.

ALM: What unusual luxury spots have you been to?

CA: Cappadocia in Turkey. The terrain is so unique and special and the hotel was a cave-like haven with views of hot air balloons floating up into the sky in the mornings.

ALM: What do you look out for when searching for a place to stay?

If I can get an iconic view that reflects the place I am in, that’s always a plus. If that is not a possibility, I love an elegant room. I usually like a mixture of contemporary and traditional furnishings and gorgeous interior design. Customer service is also really important to me, and I will always look at the reviews to see how other travellers have been treated by staff.

ALM: What are some challenges you’ve faced in your travels? What did you do about them?

CA: I have to be honest – my travel experiences are typically great. I did, however, face a challenge with retrieving luggage when I arrived in St Barth’s earlier this year and it was the first time I have ever lost my luggage! Thankfully, the staff at the hotel where I was staying went above and beyond to track my luggage down and ensured that I received it a day later. There had been an issue at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

ALM: According to the news, you’ve put together unique travel destinations for top Oscar nominees. What do you look out for when making these selections?

CA: I’m definitely looking for something glamorous and unique. We have worked with lighthouses that have been transformed into hotels, for example, and we definitely have the glamour factor this coming year with a selection of high-end luxury villas in St Barth. I also tend to look at locations; what are the locations that perhaps Oscar nominees might want to visit? This year, aside from St Barth, we have also been looking at Sri Lanka and Berlin.

This past year we had a client with an ultra-modern compound in the middle of nowhere (in Dunrobin, Canada), which was a fantastic addition to the gift bag.

ALM: What is the one thing/principle you’ve applied over and over again that has helped to keep you successful in your line of work?

CA: Remaining positive and expecting good things. The power of positive expectation is key. I believe in asking for what you want and expecting that you will attract the right people to help you with that mission. Resilience is a must in business too: you will always find blocks in the road, but it’s about pushing past them and finding another way.

ALM: What would you like to see more in Africa to make it a top travel destination?

CA: I think that more unique luxury hotels in unique places that showcase the beauty that Africa has would be fantastic.

ALM: What do you think non-Africans need to experience here on the continent to make Africa a top travel destination?

I think that non-Africans have to be made more aware of the beautiful things to see throughout Africa, and the experiences that maybe they are not yet aware of. African countries that have got this really right in terms of branding are Kenya, with their safari experiences; Namibia, with its stunning desert; and, Egypt with its obviously iconic pyramids. Ensuring that other African spots showcase what they have may come from a more focused PR and marketing push, for example, with the visuals being at the centre of everything. With social media tools like Instagram, everything is more visual these days and people can’t be aware of something they know nothing about. More awareness of what to see and do would be great.

‘In Conversation with’ by ASPIRE Luxury Magazine celebrates stars, influencers, celebrities and public figures, shining a spotlight on their lives and the incredible stories they have to share.

The post In Conversation with Cleo Anderson, Luxury Travel Expert and Founder, The Anderson Media Group first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post In Conversation with Cleo Anderson, Luxury Travel Expert and Founder, The Anderson Media Group appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

What are superfake luxury items?

These are basically counterfeit items that are hard to detect with the naked eye.

Imitation of luxury items, or just about any kind of imitation is not new and has indeed existed for a long time. It is why the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, and, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works were both signed as early as the 1880s to protect the intellectual properties of goods and services.

However, while it was much easier to detect counterfeit luxury items in the past, the rise of technology coupled with the indefatigable spirit of die-hard imitators and increased demand for hard-to-detect fakes has led to the birth and subsequent rise of superfakes, AKA real fakes.

Rise of superfakes in Asia

To date, China remains the home of superfake luxury goods, even though other countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia are catching up quickly. In fact, the latter is leading in superfake handbags, although some sellers say they source from China.

Other countries like Turkey and the Netherlands also have home-based counterfeit factories, but none comes close to China, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries. Different reasons have been cited for this, but the real explanation is that most brands, luxury or otherwise, actively produce in Asia to cut costs.

As this quote attributed to industrial design writer Rain Noe says, “If a human being contracted by Nike can accurately sew a pattern, a human being not contracted by Nike can, too.”

Superfake luxury goods are on the rise beyond Asia too

Only recently, Watchfinder & Co released a report stating that over a million counterfeit luxury timepieces are currently circulating in the UK. This seems like a huge number until you consider the fact that the report also says that at least 40 million counterfeit timepieces are sold annually all over the world.

The rise of e-commerce has worsened the distribution of these real fakes, and in spite of laws and technology, the sale and demand of these items continue to boom.

Do superfake luxury items mean luxury brands are merely selling a feeling instead of quality?

This is usually the excuse those who actively buy counterfeit luxury goods give. However, it is far from the truth.

Anyone who has (un)consciously bought items in this category finds out quickly that they are not built to last, no matter how closely they resemble the real deal. Per the Watchfinder & Co report, 16 per cent of the counterfeit watches broke down after light usage. Those who buy fake luxury purses find out that the stitching unravels after a few uses, or the leather begins to peel after a brief stint outdoors.

In the end, it is imperative to remember that every business exists to make profits, and since manufacturers of these items are promising replicas at cheaper prices, it only makes sense that they would be using cheaper, inferior materials in their construction.

Unfortunately, cheaper does not always mean inexpensive: some of the superfake bags in Jakarta’s Mangga Dua market, dubbed ‘Hong Kong Alley’ by some locals, cost anywhere from $1000 to $10,000, depending on how close to the original they are.

A Kelly crocodile-skin replica could easily cost $10,000, and, on the surface, looks like a steal since the real deal goes for $41,000. That is until you consider that you may have to buy another one just six months later because your superfake has unravelled and peeled badly.

Luxury brands are trying – and failing – to stop this menace

From working with law enforcement to using technology (hello, Aura blockchain consortium anyone?) to curb this menace, luxury brands have tried and are still trying to stem the counterfeit tide. Yet, nothing has worked effectively so far.

This is because at the end of the day, the decision to buy fakes comes down to the individual, and you can only influence a person so much.

Counterfeiters have to be stopped, however, since they end up eliminating the exclusivity and originality that are major characteristics of luxury items. Unfortunately, they cannot be completely eradicated, and all affected brands can continue to do is try and put up a fight every time these superfake manufacturers evolve.

Superfake or real fake luxury goods are sadly here to stay, and while we trust the brands to stay on top of the situation, as individuals, the best we can do is ensure we take all the necessary steps to avoid being victims.

The post The Superfake Luxury Industry is Evolving — and Booming first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post The Superfake Luxury Industry is Evolving — and Booming appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Whilst the subscription/retainer-based models are popular today, the concept is not. This form of health care is also about to become more popular, states Dr Chichi Menakaya, founder of Annomo Health, a UK-based global concierge medicine company.

“Personalised healthcare and wellness is here to stay.”

“I think that’s where medicine is going anyways. It’s all about personalised health care and wellness in the whole world at the moment.”

“I was always the person that people would call and say, ‘I want to go and see a doctor in London. Do you know anyone I can see?’ And then I would do that,” Dr Menakaya said during our conversation. But then I think what really made me start the business was when a few years ago – like 13 years ago, that was when the dream started – I had a relative that was in the UK and he had to see a particular doctor. So I went in, found someone I thought was the best person to see [and] referred them to that person. This relative even though they were paying cash to the doctor, turned up 15mins late to that appointment, and the doctor refused to see them even as they were coming from abroad. So what the hospital did was find the next available [doctor] and refer him to the person. And even though the person he was referred to had the best manners, did really, really well; when it now came to their surgical option, what that person offered them was not the best practice option. So they offered them an open surgery when there was already a robotic option for the surgery. What then happened – because obviously, I am a doctor, so I can easily detect – [I realised] that this is not the right thing for this person, because there is more advanced treatment.”

“I was upset so I found the best surgeon to handle the surgery, who also happened to be on the queen’s medical team. The day we eventually went to that appointment with the relative, this professor, even though he is one of the best in the UK, came downstairs to welcome the patient. And for me, that was literally an eye-opener, because it meant that although you could get the best, their manners are also very important.”

“And after that time, I said to myself, ‘I need to start a place where people can get the best care that they need.’ A lot of people are coming from abroad and they can afford it. They get given some mediocre doctor just because they think you’re coming from [another country]. They’re going to get you the cheapest doctor for the hospital … while the hospital is making the most money.”

“And obviously, there is another story to it about other people saying to me, ‘Listen: let’s get this done as a business, right?’ But I think that is the reason, like for me, I just wanted to make sure people got the best care that they needed. And I think that story is actually what triggered me to get in. And … literally 2 years later, we got the business up and running.”

“Medical concierge is not health insurance.”

Starting any business is difficult, and even though it’s in the health industry, Annomo Health was not without its challenges in the beginning.

“I think the biggest challenge I faced starting the business was explaining to people that Harley Street does not mean everything on Harley Street is good. I think that is [still my biggest challenge]. Because everyone comes to the UK and goes, ‘Oh my doctor is on Harley Street’, and I am like ok yeah, whatever. There are people in Harley Street that don’t know what they’re doing and I don’t want to use that word exactly, but there are people that are not that great and they’re on Harley Street.”

“What was also difficult for us is explaining to people that a concierge company is not an insurance company. Every time I have a meeting, no matter how educated they are, they say to me, ‘Is it health insurance?”

“Someone would say ‘I am coming from Nigeria, and I just want to see anybody because it is better than Nigeria.’ But that is not the point. The point is that they’re not doing it for you for free. Therefore, what you need to be asking for is ‘I want to see the best person because I am going to spend money seeing that best person. So it does not matter whether it’s me … it’s best to see the best person. And I think that is really difficult to explain to people. And as a company, we are still explaining that every day.”

“Concierge medicine is … having an advocate in your corner … constantly fighting for your health”

So, what exactly, in layman’s terms, is concierge healthcare, at least through the lens of Annomo Health?

“So I think there are very simple ways to explain Annomo Services, right? What Annomo Services does is simple: all we want to do is put the patient first. And all we want to do is get the private patients to see the best doctors, be treated in the best hospitals and have access to the best technologies. That’s all. And literally, we want to introduce them to the doctors’ doctors and make sure they are treated the way they need to be treated and get value, not just because of the money they have, but also because they’re using their money to get the best out of the service. That’s a summary of what we do.”

“I think for a lot of people, especially Africans, we see health as something we have to think about when it gets bad, but that’s the whole idea of having preventive medicine: you don’t have to wait till you’re sick. I think we’re getting to a point where people would need to start thinking that what they need to spend the most money on is making sure their health is right, and every other thing is secondary.”

“I think at some point we will get there obviously because it is like a learning process, everybody is trying to understand that and that is what we’re trying to do all the time by saying to people, ‘listen, make your health your priority.’ and that’s just the truth. I think that for every single person, whether you’re a child, an adult, you’re old, a concierge is important for everybody; personalised health care is for everyone: it’s not like for anyone in particular.”

“At Annomo Health, it is not all about money”

While we say concierge medicine is for everybody, in reality, not everyone can and would have access to it. There are various reasons why this would happen, with finance being top of the list, but according to Dr Chichi, this is not even always the case.

“When I say concierge is not about money, people don’t understand me sometimes. We had a pregnant, one-off client who wanted us to provide her with accommodation amongst other services. But, unless you have a maternity package where we’re constantly looking after you, it is a one-off service: we get you to the [OB/GYN who] is going to look after you and your baby. We settle you in and we walk away.”

“But because the woman was coming with a child [and] had no assistance … we offered to give a complimentary concierge service for free. [Unfortunately] from day one that she arrived, it was all abusive, everything was wrong [and] we could never make her happy. And trust me, it wasn’t the hormones. So we then discontinued the complimentary service that we had offered her, and we did instead hand her over to her gynaecologist to look after her.”

“I know this sounds a bit arrogant for us, [but] we don’t care how much you’re bringing into the business. If the relationship is not working we will refund. And we refunded all her money, to be honest. We refunded every single service that she had paid for, and let her gynaecologist look after her while we just hovered to make sure she was ok.”

There’s another instance where Annomo Health could decide not to extend its concierge services to a client. “If we look at [the medical reports we get from the patient’s country]  and think that making an out-of-country trip is a waste of time for the family in terms of the prognosis, whether they’re in the UK, in Nigeria, Ghana, wherever else; we will call the family and advise them not to come abroad because it is a waste of money. Because what you don’t want is people spending all this money and the outcome is still the same. Over the last 10 years, we’ve turned down about maybe 5 patients. Maybe more than that actually … it’s us saying that we don’t think it is going to work.”

“People think [personalised healthcare] is a luxury service, [but] it actually saves you a lot of money”

Speaking about membership tiers and benefits at Annomo Health, Dr Chichi clearly states that, “at the moment, we have 5 tiers of membership for the private members club. One is called the ‘travelling membership’ and it gives access to health care in both the UK and the US, including emergency services in the US. And it is actually only available to travelling executives through their companies; it is not for individuals.”

“Then we have the ‘individual membership’, the ‘family membership’, the ‘corporate membership’ and also something called the ‘student membership’. In each of those memberships, there are different cadres of membership. So it starts out with silver to gold to platinum and something called bespoke. And literally what bespoke means is you handpick what services you want, depending on what you want.”

“The family membership at the moment is actually for a husband and a wife, or a couple with 2 children, and the children are add-ons. When you come to corporate membership, it is also for high-level executives. The company has to have at least 3-10 members to be able to access this package. And obviously, each time you add a different person, you get a bit of a discount. And these memberships are targeted at preventative medicine and also give you access to having a personalised doctor, your own personal nurse and a personal health consultant … which means in this case a concierge health consultant who basically can do stuff like your luxury concierge for you, and also do your health things and be your advocate. But then you have a doctor you can call anytime, text, [and] message when you are really stressed out, whatever you want to talk about. And then also you have a nurse that can go out to you.”

“Then we have something called the student membership. Literally, the student membership is for people based in the UK only. And what that does is that if your child is here on private education, we have a pediatric consultant that actually looks after the students. Of course, depending on their ages: if they are more than 18, they don’t have a paediatrician, they now have a general practitioner that looks after them. And again, it’s a personalised service so they can hold them when there is a problem, give them advice, come out and visit them, whatever they want to do and it’s just a yearly membership for the kids also. Because obviously, when kids are abroad, you want to make sure that they are having the best care that they can get.”

“The other thing I didn’t mention with the corporate membership is that we also offer them health education services a few times a year depending on what they want, and this is training people on things like stress management, how to cope with workload, and masterclasses that we do for an hour just to support them. And like I said, each of these memberships can be made bespoke. We have families with three wives, four children: they can just pick what they want and create a personalised package. Because … there is no one fit for everybody in medicine we’ve tried make sure that people can handpick what they want and mix and match, till they get what they need.”

“Now I think that I spoke about the health bit of the membership, but what I forgot to mention is the luxury concierge that comes with it also. So, with the membership, you get access to a concierge assistant who literally would do all the other things you need them to do for you. So if they have to do personal shopping for you, airport pickups [they’ll do it]. Some people might say to me, ‘Listen, I need someone to come and help me pack my bags because I’m travelling’: they can do that also for them.”

“And that’s it, that’s just how it works. That’s the membership..in a nutshell.”

“Concierge Medicine is like having health care in your pocket and walking around with it”

It may appear that concierge healthcare involves moving from one point to the other in search of excellent healthcare. But actually, this is not the case. This niche in medicine is only concerned with one thing: giving the patient real value for their money. And while it may involve travelling, especially if the options the patient seeks are not close by, it does not mean concierge health care cannot be local.

“While we do not offer our services in every single country we can localise our services in the client’s home country. So I’ll give you an example: the services we offer in Nigeria are mostly rehabilitation. If someone has had an operation in the UAE, if they go back to Nigeria, we have a team of people that would manage their aftercare, including a doctor that would go out to see them.”

“And we do that a lot with cancer patients because chemotherapy is really expensive in the UK. So someone comes to the country because they have lymphoma, they come to the UK, they have all their scans done, [and] we do a treatment protocol for them that says they need chemo for 6 weeks. Doing chemo in the UK would cost like, I don’t know, 70,000 pounds. But in Nigeria, it may cost 4 million naira. We would plan the treatment plan in the UK, they would go back to Nigeria. We would find a professor in oncology that can give them the chemo in Nigeria, [and] when they need to have their scans or follow up, [they] come back to the UK to see their professor [who has all the while been] speaking to the one in Nigeria.”

“So we do those types of services for people in their home countries to 1) help them with cost. 2) to help them be able to stay around loved ones when they’re being treated. But they are really handpicked cases, we don’t do it for every single service. The only other way we also do it is that sometimes we’ve flown doctors from here to like Nigeria; we’ve done that a lot with UAE. So we fly doctors from here to go do operations in those countries for patients. So like somebody can say, ‘Listen, I’m in Dubai. I don’t really want to come to the UK, I don’t want to be treated in the UK.’ Because we have partner hospitals we work with, we fly a surgeon from the UK to do the operation for them, because obviously, they can do it in their home country. We have a lot of that also.”

Annomo Health has shown that concierge medicine is clearly a fantastic option for just about anyone seeking more flexible and effective healthcare. But potential subscribers should beware: it is not entirely flexible.

“So let me be honest with you: we’re really not that flexible. We’re very, very strict with rules, not because we’re difficult, but because there is regulation for different things. And we have to be strict about the regulations.”

“Concierge healthcare can work in Africa”

Can concierge medicine become ubiquitous in Africa? Dr Chichi thinks so.

“Actually, we were planning to offer the same services in Nigeria in 2019, [but] then the pandemic happened. And I think Nigeria is the first market for it; that’s my honest opinion. I think it would work in Nigeria: you just have to get it round people’s heads to do it. And I think in the future, yes we will. For me, my ultimate goal is to make sure healthcare in Africa is better and to be honest, I don’t like people coming abroad for healthcare. When I say it, people don’t believe me. What I want is that if Nigeria had those services, then we should be able to utilise them in Nigeria.”

“The problem we have in Nigeria is that people think that nice-looking hospital means they know what they’re doing. It’s all about handpicking people and I know that there’s a lot of groups now in Nigeria saying we can do this. The problem I worry about is … we need to have regulations, we need to have policies in place that actually censor what people are doing. But I think we’re getting there because I am now seeing court cases in Nigeria won by families because doctors screwed up. And I think it is really important because these are human beings. We need to be asking questions.”

“And I think healthcare in Nigeria is fantastic, I think Nigeria has a lot of experienced and seasoned doctors. But I think that we need to put in rules and good regulations to be able to sieve out [the rest]. Like if I was sick in Nigeria, I would go to the teaching hospitals easily, I won’t even be worried because I know that they are very good at what they’re doing. But people don’t see that … there are very good doctors in Nigeria; I know a lot of them and I have spoken to a lot of them.”

“Annomo Health is taking concierge medicine to Turkey”

What then is next for Annomo Health?

“Turkey.”

“So I think we’re going to do business in Turkey. It’s going to take us like one or two months to set it up because there is so much that needs to be done. We’re going to send a few people as [part of a] pilot and then get our board’s approval.”

But of course, expanding any business comes with its unique sets of challenges and learning curves.

“I think scaling the business part is easier because of the people we want to try and get. I think one of our biggest challenges is 2 things.”

“For a long time, you know pre-pandemic, we ran membership by invitation only. Now, there is a one-off service but initially, when we started, we struggled to ensure that we were not offering the same service to people in this category because we were used to our premium healthcare packages. 

“Now that we are scaling even further, we want to be able to ensure that we never dilute the brand or make a mistake with the brand. Because if you’re going to expand and go into new markets, you need to have better options that offer wider, more varied payment options. So not everybody can afford the very expensive people that we work with, but some other people can. We’re trying to navigate that by opening up other countries that are more affordable. We would never stop working with the best people, right? And obviously, the best people cost more money, but what we could do is get the best people in places where the entire health service is cheaper. And that is what we are trying to do. But it’s a bit hard sometimes to navigate all of that.”

Dr Chichi Menakaya: the human behind Annomo Health Services

I cannot leave home without

“My mobile phone and my Macbook. If I don’t have my Macbook my life is not normal.”

I cannot go into a meeting without

“My Macbook. I love it so much, it’s like my best friend. It’s so bad, my Macbook sleeps on my bed.”

A typical day for me would be

“Fun with a bit of stress, and also exciting. I normally get up about 5:30am. If I am operating on that day, I am at work at 7, just to see my patients. Then I operate the whole day: my operating days are an all-day operating day. If I have a clinic day, then it’s not really that busy. But in between, I could have a business meeting or meetings with people. I also love watching movies, that really helps me relax. And I say my prayers and I go to sleep and the next day starts.”

“It’s always different every day. Sundays I do less business work. I spend a lot of time with family over the weekend, in the evenings mostly. My weekends are also full of business meetings for the businesses.”

What are your 3 absolute best cities to visit?

“Paris – it is the love of my life. I’ve been about 1 billion times a year.”

“South Africa – I love South Africa a lot. I’ve been to Cape Town which I really loved.”

“Sicily – I’ve never been to Sicily but Sicily is like the love of my life also. And I am not going to go to Sicily till a special time.”

My most expensive buy is

“I have to confess: I am addicted to shoes and bags. I buy a lot of shoes and bags, like you don’t even want to know. But the most expensive thing I own is a wristwatch I have. It’s nothing that anyone uses. It’s an Italian brand and it’s got real diamonds in it. I can’t remember the name, but I bought it in Italy like 12 years ago. I bumped into Milan and I bought it.”

What are 3 things most people don’t know about you?

“I have a relationship commitment phobia.”

“Even though people think I’m very confident, I still get scared when I have to do a presentation, but people don’t see that. They only see the fact that I am so confident when I’m doing it but deep down I’m scared. I don’t want it to go wrong. But once I say my name, the fear leaves me. My mum used to say to me, you need to remember who you are, whose child you are. So whenever I say my name and hear my name, it makes me remember who I am and it helps me take away that fear.”

“My best friend when I was a child was a dog called Oscar. Till I was 21, my best friend was Oscar, but he died of hepatitis.”

If you were not a doctor, what would have been a natural career path for you?

“It would have been one of multiple things. My natural career path would have been to do charity or missionary work. I love meeting new people because I think life is all about your relationships, your network with people. And I feel like if you can make one person smile if you can take away pain from one person, it works. That’s why I did medicine in the first place.”

“Two, I would have wanted to do fashion which I still do as a doctor. I design clothes. The other thing I would have really wanted to do is business full-time, like buying and selling or owning a shop.”

The post ASPIRE CEO: Dr Chichi Menakaya is Delivering the Ultimate Concierge Medicine Experience first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post ASPIRE CEO: Dr Chichi Menakaya is Delivering the Ultimate Concierge Medicine Experience appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Certainly not, because the 20th century is well, a whole century ago. But, luxury fashion appears to be edging towards the brink of yet another set of novel trends, and the possibilities peaking out from its depths hold the promise of truly exciting times ahead.

Marrying luxury fashion with visual arts and culture: On The Wings of Hermès and Goddess Awakened

Public fashion shows may no longer be considered groundbreaking, but putting up an art show where fashion and performance fuse synergistically is certainly a novel and interesting concept.

On Friday, July 17, Hermès welcomed select guests to On The Wings of Hermès, a cinematic performance that ran from the 15th to the 23rd of July at The Barker Hangar in California. Performing on stage for the first time was a chorus of singing Kelly Bags, pairs of dancing interlacing gloves, scarves and lipsticks from the French house.

According to Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès Artistic Director, “[On The Wings of Hermès] metaphorically illustrates the lightness that is omnipresent at Hermès: in the delicate hands of our craftsmen sewing with two needles at once; in the elegance of materials, and in the subtle notes of a perfume. It is an experience which sparks the imagination, designed by artisans of dreams.”

For Nike however, incorporating art into fashion was less about illustrating the versatility of the products and the skills that bring them to life, and more about showcasing why the products exist in the first place – for the athletes and the people who embody the ethos of the American brand.

Goddess Awakened, Nike’s immersive show which took place at the end of the Haute Couture week in Paris, focused on amplifying sportswomen’s achievements with the help of over 30 Nike partners and athletes. Performers, dressed in existing and yet-to-be-released merch from the brand held the audience’s attention while also subtly drawing their gaze to the products themselves. Athletes Ibtihaj Mohammed and Scout Bassey also made an appearance, cementing the notion that Nike is committed to being a reliable partner in women’s success stories and not just a mere high-end sports apparel brand.

As Nike and Hermès have proven, it is no longer enough for luxury brands to dress up models for a short strut down the walkway. Creatively immersing the audience into how their products are beneficial in real life just might be the 21st century’s version of a fashion show.

Finding new uses for existing luxury items: the Rihanna timepiece necklace and Beyoncé’s Tiffany & Co mesh gown

It is perhaps a wonder that timepieces have managed to remain in existence, in spite of newer technologies that have rendered their primary functions obsolete. Watchmakers like Tag Heuer and Bulgari are elevating these wrist accessories to tech and jewellery pieces that do more than tell the time or calculate speed to keep up with modern needs, but even these might not be enough to keep them on wrists in a new millennium.

Jacob&Co thinks so too, but the American jewellery house, known for its very complicated, non-traditional designs, does not seem to think that this would mean they would be discarded, but more like they would be worn on other body parts. Which is why when Rihanna approached them with the novel concept of designing a timepiece for her neck, founder Jacob Arabo was quick to say yes and sit with the singer to choose an appropriate piece for the purpose.

In the end, they settled for an 18-karat-gold Flying Tourbillon, set with 339 baguette diamonds, on a custom alligator-embossed calfskin strap and powered by a hand-wound movement and 42-hour power reserve.

Perhaps, it was easier for Jacob&Co to transform a timepiece into a neckwear, seeing as they are a jewellery brand, but how does the latter transform into making high-end garments? Tiffany & Co offers a clue, with their custom-designed Elsa Peretti gown for Beyoncé’s ongoing tour.  The garment – which took 200 hours to make, and was created from 150 feet of mesh ribbon woven with 300,000 rings through the mesh, side panels and shoulders – stole the show just as much as her performance.

Luxury fashion is clearly changing, with different items taking on new forms. It is interesting to see what the next re-imagined trend would be: purses that double as time and wrist pieces? Or perhaps footwear that also work as navigators?

The post Luxury Fashion is Finding New and Exciting Expressions first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Luxury Fashion is Finding New and Exciting Expressions appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.