The Caribbean-Mexico development pipeline is nearing 30,000 rooms, according to a new report from hotel analytics firm STR. There were 170 hotels and 29,572 rooms in the hotel development pipeline in the Caribbean and Mexico through September, according to STR. That represented a 23.5 percent increase in rooms under contract compared with the same month in 2013, with a 31 percent increase in rooms in construction. The upscale segment accounted for the largest number of rooms in the latest report, with 7,213 rooms. The luxury segment was next with 6,189 rooms or 20.9 percent of the total pipeline.   http://www.caribjournal.com/

Hotel du Marc Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Sophie Maxwell, Insight Director at Pearlfisher, investigates how the shift from owning luxury to experiencing luxury is impacting luxury hotels A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group ( BCG ) identified a shift from “owning a luxury to experiencing a luxury” with bespoke treats now accounting for more than half of the $1.4tn spent on luxury goods and services last year (The Guardian). Travel has always been a mainstay of the luxury market – a luxury in our lives with desire created for journeys and destinations that aim to be both extraordinary and highly aspirational. Today however it is no longer about ticking the boxes with a one-of-a-kind destination holiday, multi starred hotels or a far-flung Spa. Now it is their difference that sparks our interest and instead we are seeking destinations that create new doorways to the unexpected… We are shifting towards a new luxury experience with unique escapism matched by an individual...

The Shangri-La hotel in Pudong, Shanghai. (Courtesy Photo) Although luxury hotels in China are still feeling the effects of the  government’s anti-corruption campaign , Chinese consumers’ interest in luxury hotels is at an all-time high based on internet search results. The new “World Luxury Index Hotels” report for 2014 by  Digital Luxury Group  in partnership with Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) finds that internet searches for luxury hoteliers surged 39 percent in China this year, making it the fastest-growing region in the world. Luxury hotel searches originating from China made up 9 percent of the global total, placing China third behind the United States and the UK. “Such a significant increase in interest for luxury hotels from China can be attributed to a few things,” says Digital Luxury Group Founder and CEO David Sadigh. “Firstly, numerous Western hotel brands are opening in second-, third-, and fourth-tier cities, building brand awareness in parts o...

Arriving at your destination, tired and jetlagged from the plane ride, doesn't necessarily have to be an unpleasant experience. Luxury accommodations around the world are now offering airport and hotel transport that is just as extravagant as their lavish suites. So, go ahead, start your relaxing vacation off on the right note with these top transfer options.  +17 Hong Kong's Peninsula Hotel has a fleet of customised Rolls Royce Phantoms in their signature green hue +17 If you prefer to arrive by air, a private helicopter service is also available from The Peninsula Hotel +17 A traditional Rajastani boat shuttles guests to The Leela Palace Hotel in Udaipur, India Perhaps the most comprehensive of all hotel transfer options,  The Peninsula Hotel  in Hong Kong offers guests the option to arrive via one of their 14 Rolls-Royce Extended Wheelbase Phantoms or instead, to use the hotel's helicopter service and private helipad. ...