Luxury

As earnings season for 2018 results for the hotel companies begins, Skift Research is out with a deep dive report on Hyatt assessing some of the company's key developments. With the company's recent acquisitions in the management space, dispositions of owned real estate, and increased focus on wellness offerings, we think Hyatt is smartly positioning itself for an uncertain future.

Upon hearing the names Laguna Niguel and Newport Beach, do you start itching to experience the luxe life in Southern California? Probably so. On the other hand, unless you are from Orange County, the name Dana Point conjures ... well, not much. But a recently formed DMO is looking to put Dana Point on the OC's luxury travel map.

Mixing business with friendship can be a risky thing but it sounds like the prospective new owners of Abercrombie & Kent share the same views on luxury travel.

Much of the wellness movement centers around prevention, or staying active and treating your body in a way that can help keep health problems at bay. Smart startups –– and even large corporate brands –– are finding ways to take advantage of this shift in how we think about health.

The richer you are, the more cash you have to spend on travel and tourism, presumably. Keeping up to date with where these high-net-worth individuals live is key for anyone hoping to make money from them.

As luxury brands look to expand their global reach, they would be wise to look into markets where the almost-rich and the rich are getting richer. A new report maps out where wealth is scaling quickly.

Direct-to-consumer wellness startups with a health bent are seeing big investments and growth. The momentum will likely continue in the year ahead.

It makes sense for hotels to step up their cultural programming, and for a certain high-end guest, it will provide an extra incentive to book.

Luxury is no longer defined by pristine interiors and personalized service but limited knowledge-based access, distinct cultural experiences, and curated, specific references. Luxury hotels opening the doors to those experiences set themselves apart for future generations of affluent travelers.

Keeping up with the demand for wellness isn’t just a good idea — it’s essential for companies that want to continue to lead their respective categories.