Luxury Travel, Lifestyle and Marketing Trends

Taking the rooftop pools and other facilities to extreme levels, companies vie to launch ‘can-you-top-this?’ experiences and attractions to lure tourists. Here are a few, which caught our eye:

The key card could become a thing of the past after a hotel chain announced it would allow guests to access their rooms using their smartphones. Instead of a key card, guests could download an application to their mobile device that would enable them to open their door simply by holding their phone to a sensor. If successful, this would mean that guests could choose to avoid the hassle of checking in at the front desk.

Slum tourism isn’t for everyone. Critics declare that ogling the poorest of the poor isn’t tourism at all – it’s voyeurism that’s more exploitative than supportive. Proponents of slum tourism argue that ignoring poverty won’t make it go away and its one of the few ways that tourists are ever going to understand what true poverty means – a reality check of sorts.

The Wall Street Journal reports that broadcast company, NBC Universal, is taking a new approach to advertising with behavior placement. “In just one week on NBC, the detectives on “Law and Order” investigated a cash-for-clunkers scam, a nurse on “Mercy” organized a group bike ride, Al Gore made a guest appearance on “30 Rock,” and “The Office” turned Dwight Schrute into a cape-wearing superhero obsessed with recycling.”

Just about everyone is in agreement, and above all affluent travelers, that the hotel star system worldwide has lost credibility. The proof of the pudding? Hotels have had to call themselves six or seven star to affirm their luxury credentials.

KWE group’s President & Chief Strategist, Karen Weiner Escalera, was recently interviewed by Hotel Vikas, a magazine for the American hospitality industry. In the interview, Karen highlights steps to help hoteliers in today’s challenging economy, the importance of value even to the affluent, rethinking strategic market/product positioning, and where the hotel industry is headed. We invite you to read the interview in its entirety to learn more.

It’s permeating everything from gifting and wedding registries to personal enrichment and self-reinvention, so that creativity and artistic expression are accessible to everyone, not just reserved for the affluent.

An excerpt from Karen Weiner Escalera’s speech last week in Palm Beach for the Luxury Marketing Council last week, as reported by The Palm Beach Daily News: “Value rules the day at all price points,” she said, reminding the audience that before the global recession kicked in last year, excess was in vogue.”It’s a badge of honor for consumers to get things at a good price.”

Food is all about globalization and variety these days. While some of us are making fewer trips abroad this year, we still want to taste what’s new and exotic. Influenced by street foods found across the world, mobile establishments are creating a buzz with their bold flavors, affordable prices and chef centric atmosphere and service.

Anyone working in PR can tell you about the bombardment of invites in their inboxes for seminars, webinars and conferences for social media and SEO training. This indicates a demand for more education on the topic, and according to these results, it’s paying off.