Here are the top five hottest news stories in luxury within the past days. Pursuitist chose these as they have the greatest depth and breadth, those that combine wide popularity and with trend possibility. Read on!
The Four Seasons Moscow opens on October 30, 2014.
If the building looks familiar, it is because the building appears on the label of Stolchinaya Vodka, and on an historic Russian postage stamp — It was the old Hotel Moskva, opened in 1935 — demolished in 2004. Five years later, a replica of the Hotel Moskva was completed, and houses The Four Seasons, very close to Red Square. It has five food and drink venues including Italian and Russian restaurants, a 24-hour fitness center, a glass-roofed lap pool and a 32,292 square foot spa, which will open early next year.
The 180 rooms and suites all have floor-to-ceiling windows, many have balconies, with marbled bathrooms and Roberto Cavalli amenities. Each has an inroom iPad allowing you to book spa appointments and order room service. House automobiles (BMW 7 Series) are equipped with free WiFi and an iPad.
Jimmy Choo Goes Public.
On a crisp Friday morning, in mid October Jimmy Choo became the first luxury shoe company to make an IPO move, listing about a quarter of its shares on the London Stock Exchange for 140 pence ($2.25),valuing the company at about 546 pounds ($874 million), $63 million more than Labelux paid to acquire the company in 2011. Jimmy Choo was founded in 1996 by Jimmy Choo and Tamara Mellon, alongside Choo’s niece Sandra Choi, who has served as creative director of the label since its inception.
Much could happen to the brand, or to any brand, after it goes public. Their stated aspirations are to move into Asia, as they recognize the wealth in this market. Right now, they are adding 10-15 stores each year. The company may hope to create investment capital to fuel their ecommerce platform to become even more multinational, multilingual, innovative, and personalized than it is already.
Diane Von Furstenberg launches her brand centric TV show: House of DVF
American fashion label Diane von Furstenberg geared up for the premiere of its brand-centric television show with a multichannel campaign.
Prior to the first episode of “House of DVF,” aired on E! on Sunday, Nov. 2, the brand has been reaching out on social media and has set up a city-wide installation in New York to generate a conversation about the pilot. It is a competition show centering on the fashion designer’s quest to find a global brand ambassador for her label. It promises to provide an intimate, back-office view of the internal workings of von Furstenberg’s empire, as she and her team test a group of ambitious young women. Filmed in New York, the contestants will be jet-setting to various locales, to DVF sponsored events, and working on multi-million dollar campaigns, as well as producing charity events.
Viking Cruises To Start Ocean Cruises In May 2015.
The First Ocean Star will go on Maiden Voyage, May 2015. Los Angeles Viking Cruises recently announced the launch of its ocean product line, Viking Ocean Cruises (www.vikingcruises.com/oceans) marking the introduction of the travel industry’s first new cruise line in nearly a decade.
Developed from the ground up to return the focus of cruising to the destination, Viking Ocean Cruises will begin sailing in May 2015 with its first vessel—Viking Star—embarking on maiden voyages in Scandinavia and the Baltic; and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean. Viking Cruises has expansion plans in both the ocean and river cruise categories, with a second ocean ship on order for delivery in 2016 and conditional orders and options for four more additional ocean vessels.
“It is our view that in the race to build bigger ships, many cruise lines have lost sight of the destinations to which they sail,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “With our new ocean cruises, we are applying the same principles behind our award-winning river cruises to our itinerary and ship design; privileged-access excursions; and onboard experiences to make destinations the true focus.”
The Waldorf Astoria, Manhattan, is sold to China’s Anbang Insurance Group – With Interesting Consequences.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT), the largest publicly traded hotel operator, is considering buying high-end urban hotels or resorts to spend $1.95 billion in proceeds from the sale of Manhattan’s Waldorf Astoria hotel.
Hilton, which earlier this month agreed to sell the property on Park Avenue to China’s Anbang Insurance Group Co., is looking at hotels in U.S. gateway cities and resort properties, Chief Executive Officer Christopher Nassetta said.
Hilton said it will have more specific details on assets and markets in the next 60 to 90 days. The company is seeking to spend the Waldorf proceeds in a 1031 exchange, to defer the payment of capital-gains taxes.
Hilton’s sale of the 83-year-old Art Deco building, which occupies an entire block in midtown Manhattan, is the largest ever for a U.S. hotel, according to research firm Lodging Econometrics.
