Samantha Shankman

Latest Stories

Business Travel

Luxury Fashion-Branded Hotels Aim to Exceed Chinese Expectations

It is said the future of luxury lies at the intersection of luxury and fashion, a nexus attractive to Chinese consumers who are still driven by brands and status in making purchase decisions.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 6 years ago

Luxury Fashion-Branded Hotels Aim to Exceed Chinese Expectations

Business Travel

Innovative Hoteliers Tap Craft Cocktail Culture for Luxury Guests

Craft cocktail culture is based on the same principles driving change in the luxury hospitality world today: consumers’ desires for best-quality ingredients, a curated sense of place, and staff conscious of (and connected to) the local scene.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 6 years ago

Innovative Hoteliers Tap Craft Cocktail Culture for Luxury Guests

Business Travel

Why Luxury Hotels Are Investing in Family-Friendly Programs

What appear to be simple marketing schemes are in fact thoughtful curations that have the double effect of attracting new customers and, if executed correctly, their return. Happy children mean happy parents and there's no better way to secure another booking.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 6 years ago

Why Luxury Hotels Are Investing in Family-Friendly Programs

Business Travel

Belize Is Latest Test Ground for Luxury Development and Environment

Belize should serve as a case study for conscious luxury development. There will be successes and lessons to watch for in the coming years as the effects of a small group of hoteliers' decisions play out in the local environment and culture.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 6 years ago

Belize Is Latest Test Ground for Luxury Development and Environment

Business Travel

The Growth and Democratization of Flying Private

Any luxury industry experiencing an uptick in new, affluent young customers has a right to be bullish about growth, but it is a combination of logistics, customer service and branding that will eventually set the winners apart from the other players.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 6 years ago

The Growth and Democratization of Flying Private

Business Travel

Is Luxury Hospitality Guilty of Cultural Appropriation?

Education delivered directly from local communities, and informed by tradition, is what distinguishes immersion from appropriation. It's the job of luxury professionals to facilitate the experience without adding the influence of their own lens.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 6 years ago

Is Luxury Hospitality Guilty of Cultural Appropriation?

Business Travel

Inside the Rise of Solo Luxury Adventure Tourism

Forget millennials. It's their parents who have the money and time to sign up for luxury experiences around the globe. With the aid of digital communications, going alone no longer feels like tragedy but an asset.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 6 years ago

Inside the Rise of Solo Luxury Adventure Tourism

Business Travel

The Rise of Luxury Wellness Tourism in Africa

An expanding definition of wellness experiences that includes self-actualization and adventure as much as farm-fresh meals and sophisticated spa treatments is positioning African destinations and operators to become the next leaders in the luxury wellness travel market.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 6 years ago

The Rise of Luxury Wellness Tourism in Africa

Business Travel

The State of Luxury Yacht Rentals and Sharing Schemes

Breaking open the yacht rental market with a sharing platform is a difficult endeavor given the challenges of operating a digital business within the luxury sector as well as the nuances and securities needed for an experience as hands-on as yachting.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 6 years ago

The State of Luxury Yacht Rentals and Sharing Schemes

Business Travel

Being Informal Is the Future of Luxury Guest Relations

Luxury travelers are seeking out experiences that enrich their lives rather than isolate them from adventures. That's why The Thief in Oslo is one of a growing number of luxury hotels that are pursuing more informal and instantaneous relations with guests.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 6 years ago

Being Informal Is the Future of Luxury Guest Relations