Will Concierge Fashion Services Shape Luxury Travel?

When Rent the Runway first launched, it seemed like the perfect solution to the conundrum of what to wear to a black-tie wedding. Because, let’s be honest, you’re only going to wear that extravagant dress once.

Now the service has, logically, expanded into travel, partnering with W Hotels in cities like Hollywood, South Beach, and Aspen with the promise of making packing easier — and lighter — for the luxury traveler. The services could even offer wellness side benefits, such as alleviating stress over what to wear to that big work event.

With borrowing on the rise, thanks in part to eco-conscious customers concerned about the harmful effects of fast fashion, we explore how more concierge fashion services like Trvl Porter have sprouted up, geared toward these high-end, fashion-focused travelers.

While some concierge services think that they’ll be able to replace the need to pack as we know it, others are more realistic — as are we. These types of services usually allow you to pack one fewer outfit into your luggage and give you something else to get excited about upon arrival. But a world where you show up to a hotel without a duffel bag or suitcase? That seems far-fetched — at least for this decade.

Speaking of far-fetched, it was hard to imagine — at least a few years ago — that the spiritual retreat trend would thrive in Dubai. But that’s exactly what’s happening as these wellness getaways have become all the rage for professionals as a shift toward a more health-conscious lifestyle takes hold there.

We’ll track how this interest in wellness retreats is going global, as well as whether travel concierges have the power to disrupt the concept of packing. At most, we predict, it will influence on a small scale. But anything that makes travel less painful helps, right?

For feedback or news tips, reach out via email at [email protected] or tweet me @lesliebarrie.

— Leslie Barrie, Luxury & Wellness Editor

Six looks at Luxury & Wellness

A New Market for On-Demand Luxury Fashion Delivers: Rental is the future of fashion, and the trend could transform how we pack and plan for upcoming trips. What businesses are ready to serve the demand?

Dubai’s Demand for Niche Spiritual Retreats on the Rise: Spiritual retreats have become all the rage in Dubai as the wellness travel industry continues to grow, particularly across developing markets. Tailored experiences may be the key to the growth of this niche market, as more mindful travelers are now seeking exclusivity and holistic healing methods.

Minor’s NH Swoops Up Portfolio Paving Way for More Anantara Hotels in Europe: Getting not one but eight fancy hotels in prime locations in Europe in one fell swoop is a rare deal, and Thailand’s Minor International is off to a good start in 2020 with this coup by its subsidiary NH Hotel Group.

Hotel Development Plans in Washington, D.C., Hit a Supply-and-Demand Snag: More people are visiting the U.S. capital but occupancy rates and revenue-per-room have not budged much. Chalk it up to an old-fashioned economics problem of supply and demand, but that’s not stopping developers from building more hotels.  

A Bush Pilot Who Always Longs to Return to African Skies: Kirsty Henderson has arguably one of the coolest jobs in aviation: She’s a bush pilot, ferrying passengers across scenic African landscapes like Botswana. What’s more, she’s helping show aviation as a viable career path for young women.

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Leslie Barrie [[email protected]] curates the Skift Luxury & Wellness Travel Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Thursday.