ELITE TRAVEL TRENDS
ELITE TRAVEL TRENDS PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES Jonathan Cheung CEO, Abercrombie & Kent China WHEN “IMPOSSIBLE” DOES NOT EXIST Jonathan Cheung, CEO of Abercrombie & Kent China outlines the roadmap for this well-known business in the region. From humble beginnings in Africa, Abercrombie & Kent has become a global organisation. We started by asking Jonathan Cheung, CEO of Abercrombie & Kent China, to tell us more about the business, which was founded by Geoffrey Kent… As our founder Geoffrey Kent said, real luxury has three hallmarks: authenticity, flexibility and a sense of well-being. Authenticity means the experience is true to its place and its traditions, incorporating elements of the past and reflecting the local culture. Flexibility refers to service that anticipates your needs and satisfies them in an unobtrusive manner. Peace of mind is the sense of well-being that comes from traveling with a first-class organisation staffed by professionals for whom the word “impossible” does not exist. When travelling, people are always looking for authentic experiences, so we offer our clients not only exquisite viands or fancy accommodation but also chances to discover something that others had rarely discovered before. We have our own local offices around the world. When you travel with A&K, your guide is always local, someone with an intimate knowledge of the destination. Our guides are experts whose education, field research and personal accomplishments make them ideal companions. What kind of interest is there for your private jet ‘round the world tours? Demand is strong with many itineraries selling out within weeks of being announced. In China alone, we have seen increasing interest in the private jet experiences from our affluent clients who enjoy their highflying luxury lifestyles. Travelling by private jet allows guests to experience far more than a conventional itinerary – with greater comfort. During those private jet tours, these people are offered a chance of meeting like-minded people with a deep curiosity about the world and sharing exclusive insider access experiences. These include exclusive use of some of the world’s finest hotels, boutique lodges and camps in one-of-akind locations. Geoffrey Kent is a champion of sustainability. How does this get translated into what you do? The travel industry is in the midst of a transformation toward greater equity and sustainability. At Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy (AKP), we are dedicated to positively impacting lives and livelihoods in the communities where our guests travel. We are equally committed to ensuring guests learn about our philanthropic investments as an integral part of their travel experience, and to witness and engage. From Africa to Asia, Latin America to the Antarctic, we are working with partner communities on education, health care, conservation and enterprise development projects. We now have 41 projects in 19 countries where we strive to work with our community partners to address the education, health care, enterprise development/job creation and conservation challenges they face
Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #39 2018 Summer Edition 21 DO THE LOOP Interview – Astrid Oberhummer, owner and CEO - Lobster Experience GmbH and loop GmbH, organisers of the loop luxury fairs The loop luxury fair is now in its sixth year in Frankfurt, and this November loop runs for its second round in Tirol. Dedicated to the luxury tourism industry, the fairs provide a unique platform to generate high quality business, enhance one’s network, join a powerful community and drive new trends. We asked Astrid Oberhummer to tell us more about the event. To reach the high level of quality, the concept of loop is designed in a special way. There are only up to 100 international suppliers meeting with 130+ selected VIP buyers from the German speaking market for a period of three days. Every participant will have up to 62 meetings during these days. The meetings are reminiscent of a speed dating format, 15 minutes each. After each meeting, the buyers move to the next exhibitor according to the schedule. The two evening events provide perfect networking opportunities while enjoying a fantastic entertainment programme with lots of great food and surprise acts. What can buyers & suppliers expect? Buyers will be presented the full range of luxury products due to the international line-up. We gather unique, privately owned hotels besides the well-known, prestigious hotel brands as well as selected lifestyle exhibitors. The Chedi Muscat, Bulgari Resort & Residences Dubai, Velaa Private Island, Borgo Egnazia, Bürgenstock Hotels and many others trust in loop. As our buyers have to be all-rounders to meet the requirements of their clients, we strive to offer them a diverse line-up in each loop edition. However, the suppliers get in touch with the top buyers from our market place. They are all dedicated to luxury with a significant turnover in this niche segment. Intensive bonding between those two groups is the overall goal of loop. What are the plans for future loop luxury fair events? The brand is growing rapidly at the moment. Already, loop is no longer held exclusively at its home base in Frankfurt am Main/Germany, we celebrated a successful entree in Tyrol/ Austria last November. Due to the high demand, there will be a third loop in Prague, in 2019, to cater for the fast emerging Central and Eastern European markets Astrid Oberhummer Owner & CEO, Lobster Experience GmbH and loop GmbH SMARTreport Commercial Content
