ILTM CANNES 2023: NEWS FROM THE LEADERS OF LUXURY HOSPITALITY
The ILTM Cannes 22nd edition, hosted between the 4th and 7th December 2023, gathered all the groups and leaders of the luxury industry and gave us an opportunity to hear news from all the key players. |
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ILTM CANNES 2023: NEWS FROM THE LEADERS OF LUXURY HOSPITALITY
The ILTM Cannes 22nd edition, hosted between the 4th and 7th December 2023, gathered all the groups and leaders of the luxury industry and gave us an opportunity to hear news from all the key players. |
Category: Worldwide - Industry economy
- Interviews and portraits
- Hotel opening - Industry leaders
Article written by Sonia Taourghi on 2023-12-18
Held in the Media Center throughout the ILTM, the morning press conferences were a chance for top management to share their recent successes, upcoming openings and new initiatives.
Day 1 speakers
- Qatar Tourism: Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairman
- The Peninsula Hotels: Carson Glover, VP Marketing & Communications
- Preferred Hotels & Resorts: Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO
- Lindblad Expeditions: Sven-Olof Lindblad, Traveller and CEO
- Virtuoso Travel: Matthew Upchurch, Chairman
- Corinthia Hotels: Simon Naudi, CEO
Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani opened the session by presenting the key strengths of Qatar as a destination for luxury and families. He highlighted Zulal Wellness Resort as the only of its kind to offer traditional Arabic medicine, as well as the ability to enjoy whale and shark tours in the area.
Carson Glover shared how successful the recent openings of the London and Istanbul Peninsula properties were, while revealing more details on the Art Resonance initiative across the group's portfolio. He also unveiled the first ad campaign the company launched in more than 10 years, a campaign focused on the employees and features portraits of members of staff and their uniqueness.
Lindsey Ueberroth presented the numerous upcoming openings for Preferred Hotels, including the Hotel Maria in Helsinki, Finland, The Pulso Hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil, The Glee Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, The TEMBO in Barcelona, Spain, The Villa Dahlia in Stockholm, Sweden, and La Maison Albar Le Victoria in Nice, France. Lindsay was also keen to share insights on the Beyond Green programme's prosperity, and its invested members, 70% of which use green energy.
Sven-Olof Lindblad is a second generation explorer and proud Antarctic expert. His father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, was the first to launch an expedition ship in Antarctica in 1965. During the conference, Sven-Olof transported the audience aboard the Lindblad Expeditions’ new PC5 ship, the only ship able to navigate the Antarctic without restrictions in the route it can take.
Matthew Upchurch shared optimistic Virtuoso Travel’s results showing almost double Sales in 2023 compared to 2019. Referring to Warren Buffet's famous "Price is what you pay. Value is what you get", Matthew reminded us how "value" was one the biggest strengths of Virtuoso mission statement. More than ever, value is key to travellers and constitutes an ever growing appeal to Millennials.
Simon Naudi ended the first day session as he walked us through Corinthia’s four of the openings for 2024: in Rome, New York, Brussels and Bucarest. The Maltese born real estate developer and hotel brand, will also enter the Emirates, with first the opening of a Yacht Club in Doha.
Day 2 speakers
- The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts: Anuraag Bhatnagar, CEO - Anjali Mehra, Chief Brand Officer
- Six Senses: Neil Jacobs, CEO
- Meliá Hotels International: André Philippe Gerondeau, COO
- LUX Collective: Christian Pertl, COO - Véronique Berthier, VP Marketing
- Capella Hotels & Resorts: Cristiano Rinaldi, President
- Nobu Hotels: Rachael Palumbo, VP Marketing
The day opened with Anuraag Bhatnagar, and Anjali Mehra reaffirming the Leela brand unifiers that are Grand Architecture, Priceless Art - the group has so far curated a $30M worth collection, and Immersive Rituals, including the creation of a lotus and nilgiri based signature fragrance. The two leaders also highlighted the success of The Palace Trail - 6 days, 6 palaces, 6 destinations, along with four key community programmes for the India born group to support children and women.
Neil Jacobs confirmed Six Senses is set to double its offering over the next few years, starting with 2024 openings in La Sagesse, Grenada, Kyoto - the 1st property in Japan, London, and near Ouarzazate in Morocco. On the sustainability front, the group expects all resorts to obtain the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certificate.
André Philippe Gerondeau shared upcoming Meliá hotels openings in Milan, Nha Trang, a 4-stops journey through Tanzania, and in Ngorongoro: the first bio diverse place in the world entirely dedicated to sustainable running. Me by Melia will open the first skyscraper in Malta and Me Lisboa in H2 2024.
Summer 2023 also marked the launch of ZEL, in partnership with Rafael Nadal, under the motto of "fiesta and siesta" with openings in Mexico, Costa brava, Madrid, Dominican Republic and Bali in the next couple of years.
Christian Pertl and Veronique Berthier shared the continued vision for LUX* Collective, the Mauritius operator, to focus on guests, environment and employees. Top news include the opening of LUX Grand Baie, Mauritius, LUX Marijani, Zanzibar, and 8 boutique hotels in China, constituting the LUX Tea Horse Road.
The partnership with the Sharjah emirate should mark the first properties for the company in the Gulf with openings in Oman in December 2024 and Al Bridi in 2025. Dubai is now their 1st priority, followed by East Asia Pacific.
Cristiano Rinaldi detailed Capella’s openings in Taipei in 2024, Kyoto in 2025, and in Riyadh in 2026, the 1st property in the area. The opening of a wider pipeline from 2026 includes Florence, Nanjing and Yang Yang, then Niseko in 2027, and in 2028, Amala and Gulf of Aqaba. Patina, their sustainable luxury properties brand, will also open in the Maldives in 2025.
In parallel, the group is launching a “New Life Habits” programme based on Growth, Creativity, Rest and Connect, with local communities and culture.
Rachael Palumbo shared new openings for Nobu Hotels in 2024 in Atlantic City, Toronto and New Orleans, while 2025 will see openings in Madrid, Hamburg, New York, Lisbon, Punta Cana, Rome and Al khobar in Bahrain, marking the 1st step of the company’s middle eastern journey.
Day 3 speakers
- Soneva: Sonu Shivdasani, CEO
- Minor Hotels: Ian Di Tullio, COO - Marion Walsh-Hédouin, VP PR and Communications
- The Dorchester Collection: Francois Delahaye, COO - Julia Record, Director of Communications and Partnerships - Alex Hulen, Director of Sales & Marketing - Luca Virgilio, General Manager of the Dorchester London
- Auberge Resorts Collection: Evan Altman, Senior VP, Sales & Marketing
Sonu Shivdasani, opened the last day’s session to reaffirm the Soneva’s clear philosophy to create intelligent luxury, through SLOW LIFE and a “no news, no shoes” optic. Rare experiences are also at the heart of the company with “Soneva Soul”, exclusive 7 people cruises “Soneva in Aqua”, and the highly anticipated Soneva Secret to open in February 2024. The resort will sit on its own atol and comprises 14 individual villas and 14 chefs and as many cuisines.
Ian Di Tullio and Marion Walsh-Hédouinunveiled 6 openings for Minor’s Anantara brand, including in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the new key destinations for luxury hospitality. Guests will enjoy experiences at the Anantara Palais in Vienna, Austria, from March 2024, Anantara Mina Al Arab - Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in Q1 2024, Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat, UAE, in Q1 2024, Anantara Jaipur, India, first semester of 2024, Anantara Ubud Bali, Indonesia, from Q3 2024, and the Anantara Palais in Kafue, Zambia, from early 2025. Other brands’ expansions include a new property in Trieste, Italy, for Tivoli, properties in Dubai, Maldives and Thailand for NH Collection, a first resort in the Maldives for Avani, and the upgrade of many properties in Tanzania and Kenya for the Elewana Collection.
Francois Delahaye started by sharing more details on the upcoming opening of Dorchester Collection latest jewel, The Lana, Dubai in February 2024. He was accompanied by Julia Record and Alex Hulen to unveil the first hotel in the Middle East for the group and a key property in its expansion. Luca Virgilio, proudly shared how the Dorchester London refurbishment marked a rebranding for the flagship property, making it more vibrant; a reminder of what made it Conde Nast 1st London Hotel in 2023. In 2028, a property on the Torch Tower in Japan will be the 2st step in the far east for the group.
Evan Altman highlighted what makes Auberge Resorts collection of 29 hotels a one of a kind product with each experience and hotel “speaking to guests in a unique way”. Those include “Sanctum”, 4 pop up to see the light in 2024 where fitness meets music, meet wilderness, “Taste of Auberge”, a culinary with chefs at the heart of the experience, and Auberge Concert Series, for guests to enjoy artists in a more confidential way. The group’s expansion includes in 2024, properties in South Carolina and Italy, and in 2025, properties in Dallas, San Francisco, and Miami.
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