Sharlafied goes to ILTM, the luxury fair in Cannes
This week it’s all about luxury. Whatever that means.
Sharlafied will be attending the ILTM- International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes on the French Riviera. The event takes place from 6-10 December and it is the biggest hospitality luxury fair in the world. We will be talking about some luxury libations too!
Sharla at ILTM Cannes
This Week’s feature is all about luxury. Sharlafied will be attending the ILTM- International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes on the French Riviera. The event takes place from 6-10 December and it is the biggest hospitality luxury fair in the world. It is the first time since 2019.
Back in September, ILTM Portfolio Director Alison Gilmore commented on why Cannes is so special.
“I have just returned from Cannes for a site visit and to see another Reed exhibition taking place at Le Palais des Festivals. It was so good to see the city busy and the hotels buzzing and it felt great to be back at our French home. Memories of coffee at sunrise and cocktails at sunset will be re-lived, but most of all ILTM Cannes 2021 will be about gathering together again – our global luxury travel industry needs a live reunion.”
Luxury travel brands, experiences, destinations and suppliers from all four corners of the world will meet with international travel planners, curators and agencies once again, taking full benefit of the pre-scheduled, one-to-one appointments which will start to take shape from October.
“We are expecting international visitors from more than 95 countries once again, but for those who can’t make it, we will watch and see if the rules change, otherwise we will create a plan to connect buyers digitally with the suppliers who are there,” added Gilmore.
ILTM will feature the best of the best, and although this year the smiles will be under the masks, it will be hard for us to contain ourselves in getting together again “in the flesh”.
Luxury has as many definitions as it has people who define it. High Wealth Individuals are looking for something different from thread counts, California King beds and butler service. The pandemic has put many of them into a panic; people that have been used to taking dozens of business and pleasure trips yearly have been grounded for the first time in their lives. Some of the trends that the hospitality industry is seeing are:
Bucket list trips. Travelers have recognized the fragility of life and are saying to themselves, “Who knows when we will be able to take another trip like this again?”
Caution and extreme attention to cleanliness are of paramount importance. Germ freaks can now rejoice; they have a tribe.
Family reunions. Families have been separated for long stretches; now is the time to organize a special family reunion trip to reconnect.
Longer stays in one destination. Due to the ever-changing regulations for traveling across borders, it makes sense to remain in one country and discover it more deeply.
Staycations. Remaining in your home state or country for your holiday, to avoid the stress of uncertainty.
Eco stays. Experiencing nature ensures social distancing and calms the soul. People are looking for quiet places to reflect.
Splurge. After extended months of lockdown, people with the income are ready to splurge on things they have been postponing, especially travel, also food, drinks and to a lesser extent, commodities.
We asked some people from the hospitality industry this question: What is luxury to you?
Fabio Toffanello TED Travel Emotion Design Travel Atelier, “Luxury is not simply expensive hotels, it’s a feeling. People are looking for a different kind of luxury. For example, eco resorts, where they can get close to nature, and have a more private experience. They want something unique. Covid had a lot to do with this change in attitude.”
Christophe Mercier, Director of 5 star Hotel Ca 'di Dio in Venice, “I no longer like to use the word luxury, which means everything and nothing. On the other hand, hyper-personalization is what I believe our guests want today. As for Ca'di Dio specifically, if we are able to bring hyper-personalization within Venice and the idea of 'Venessentia' becomes the engine of the revival of tourism in the city, I can only say thank you."
Christophe in his beloved Venice.
Yann Gillet, general manager of the iconic Hotel Martinez in Cannes: “Luxury is all about pleasant surprises. The surprise that comes at the right time. That is personal and tasteful. Little pleasures that someone concocted for us without our ever dreaming that that person could have even given them thought or guessed what would delight us.”.
Yann on the rooftop of the Martinez.
Meredith O’Shaughnessy, Award winning Immersive Experience Designer. “Luxury is freedom. The freedom to be able to do what you want, when you want, with whom you want. Experiencing something that was never there before…created for you.”
Meredith at her London creation, Reverie: A Savoy Christmas, which is being billed as the “world’s first immersive champagne forest”. Photo by Jeremy Selwyn.
Brandon Felton, attorney, financial advisor and world traveller. “Luxury is having every detail meticulously planned so that nothing else is desired”
Yolanda Felton, attorney, author and mother, 50% of this power couple from LA. “Luxury is well-executed simplicity.”
The Fentons.
Steve Dobson, author of Unusual & Unique Overnight guide. “Luxury is the ability to be provided with experiences that match my mood. To party or be peaceful. Fine dining or street food. Sleeping in a castle or in a treehouse. All provided with my needs considered at the core.”
Danielle du Plessis Taljaart, Expert in Luxury Hotels, Portugal and Africa.” Luxury is and will always be centered on the idea of exclusivity—leaving you with a memorable experience.
Salvatore Calabrese, “The Maestro” at the Donovan Bar in London, offers a series of drinks called Liquid History, using vintage spirits, some hundreds of years old, in his cocktails. This is certainly a luxury. “People order one of these cocktails to drink something they will never be able to taste again. That experience will remain with them for a lifetime”.
The Maestro at his bar.
To remain on our bar/luxury theme, we have discovered a gin that will be showcased with Hotel Ca’ di Dio, of Venice, present at ILTM.
An exclusive gin based on scents
A line of gin distilled by Zu Plun from South Tyrol, Italy was created exclusively for Venetian Hotel Ca 'di Dio in collaboration with The Merchant of Venice - a Venetian brand of high perfumery. The gins are Blue Tea, Sàl, and Rosa Moceniga. Each of the gins have their corresponding perfume and are used as a finishing touch in cocktails.
The project uncovers the concept of #venessentia, an intrinsic part of Ca 'di Dio, inspired by sharing, travel and welcoming of the Mude, the ancient naval trading routes that fostered a mingling of cultures and traditions.
Sàl, gin from salt, is the result of a dialogue between the lagoon botany, rarified air and crystalline mountain water.
Blue Tea is made with blue chai butterfly pea blossoms, giving it its blue tint. The inspiration for this gin is the gesture of welcome, typical of Asian culture, as well as the long history of cultural exchanges between Venice and the East.
Rosa Moceniga gin was created from the essence of the rare Rosa Moceniga, an ancient rose with a fascinating history rediscovered in the secret gardens of the lagoon, with twenty-five botanicals.
Sa'legroni is the signature cocktail with Sàl featured at the Alchemia Bar at Ca' di Dio Hotel, Venice, for Venice Cocktail week (December 13-19)
So, what is YOUR definition of luxury?
Sharlafied would love to hear from you!
PS: If you are attending ILTM or happen to be in Cannes, be sure to stop in and say hello to Head Bartender at the Martinez, Olivier Blanchard… Tell him Sharlafied sent you.