The Epitome of Luxury

The Ritz-Carlton Company Repeats as Most Prestigious Luxury Hotel Brand in 2006 Survey of the Luxury Institute

2006-04-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has been ranked first as the most prestigious brand by The Luxury Institute's Luxury Brand Status Index Survey. The award-winning hotel company took top honors over 18 other hospitality corporations among consumers with a minimum net worth of $750,000.

"At a time when many brands claim to offer their customers luxury, it is very gratifying to see that the truly discerning and sophisticated traveler selected The Ritz-Carlton brand as their number one choice. We are especially pleased that we were rated highest for superior quality and making our customers feel special across all of their experiences," said Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. "It is a tribute to the commitment to our guests from our ladies and gentlemen at our hotels and resorts around the world," he noted.

The Luxury Institute is the uniquely independent and objective research institution that is the trusted voice of America's wealthy.

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Lap of luxury | Luxury Asian Hotels

2006-04-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

A Colleague recently paid more than $2000 to spend a single night at one of the great hotels of the world. It's a blow-your-mind amount, but he explained it somewhat sheepishly in much the same way explorers explain why they risk life and limb on an outlandish feat: because it was there. No longer young, he wanted to experience what it was like, just once.

Fortunately, you don't have to spend anywhere near that amount to live like a king, to be waited on by discreet butlers, to be collected at the airport by limousine and have your every whim indulged.

A clutch of fine hotels in Asia offer service and style that is so legendary that they need no introduction. They're simply known as The Pen, Raffles, Oriental, Shangri-La ... and they'd be delighted to welcome you and me, even if only for one unforgettable night.

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Luxury Plastic - American Express Centurion Card?

2006-04-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

You're stranded on a desert island with nary a chilled Voss in sight. You've got a tragically hungry Chihuahua on your hands, and you're in sore need of a caviar facial.

Do you slump into the dune and cry? No. You pick up your satellite phone, call your credit card company and order a private jet to come rescue you.

Yes, your credit card company. Private bankers used to be the go-to resource for the wealthy, offering clients everything from exclusive access to art gallery showings to dog walking services, and that is still often the case. But card issuers have also been getting into the rewards game for the high-flying set. A select few issuers have introduced credit card programs in the last few years for the most elite of consumers, those willing and able to spend $250,000 or more a year and put it all on plastic.

Some of the programs have an almost mystical allure, mainly because they are by invitation only and thus closed off to the hoi polloi. The American Express Centurion card, also know as the "Black AmEx" is the subject of much speculation on Internet chat rooms. It does exist, but only 10,000 people are thought to have one, including teen actress Lindsay Lohan, who was reported to have lost hers one night two years ago.

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Mandarin Oriental To Open Luxury Hotel In Barcelona

2006-04-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has today announced that it will manage a new, luxurious hotel currently under development in Barcelona. The project provides the Group with a unique opportunity to expand its luxury brand in Europe and in particular, into one of Europe's foremost travel destinations.

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona will be a stylish, 144-room hotel, ideally located on Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona’s most prestigious address, at the very centre of the city's commercial and entertainment district. The property provides easy access to the city's finest shopping, dining and cultural venues and is a short walk from many major tourist attractions. From the hotel, guests will be able to stroll amongst the city's celebrated promenades and architecture and enjoy the attractions of the famous Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter. Barcelona's many museums, churches and parks are all close at hand and two buildings designed by the city's most famous architect, Gaudi, are just a stone's throw from the hotel.

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Spring's hottest new luxury cars

2006-04-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

This spring's hottest new cars are all about money.

Half of the vehicles in the following slide show, which highlights ten of this season's most desirable new luxury cars, have sticker prices in the six figures. What's more, they are worth it.

We are talking about such highly desirable vehicles as the newest Aston Martin from Ford Motor, the 500-horsepower BMW M6 coupe and the quickest Cadillac that General Motors has ever built, the XLR-V convertible.

Fortunes are riding on these vehicles. Take the ultra-cool Cadillac Escalade EXT pickup, which will go on sale in May. It is part of the new Escalade family (the SUV version just went on sale), and GM desperately needs the Escalade to be a hit. The nameplate is not only the flagship vehicle riding on GM's new GMT900 architecture, on which the company may have spent over $1 billion (GM has repeatedly declined to declare the development cost to Forbes.com), it is also a risk: an expensive, big, high-profit truck line that is coming out as sales of such vehicles are declining.

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Luxury home project gets underway in Warwick

2006-04-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

Forty-seven luxury homes starting in the upper $700,000 will be built on 47 acres of land on a hillside in the Town of Warwick.

Officials of Pelton Crossing LLC, local business and government officials Wednesday formally cut the ribbon to ceremonially start the project. A model home is under construction at the present time.

Local developer Sandy Pankin, who has constructed a number of housing developments in Orange County, is excited about his latest project on a "premier site." Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton said the new homes will be a welcome addition to the community.

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Developers reveal details on downtown Winston-Salem luxury condos

2006-04-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

Developers Kerry Avant and Thad Lewallen officially revealed details of their One Park Vista luxury condominium project in downtown Winston-Salem on Thursday.

The project, which has been discussed since the middle of 2005, will have 33 condominiums, eight of which have already been reserved, Avant said. Prices will range from $290,000 to just over $1 million for the one, two, and three-bedroom units, which will be between 1,250 square feet and 3,400 square feet. The Davis building, on Fourth Street, just east of Cherry Street, will be torn down and the eight-story One Park Vista will rise in its place.

"We're trying to capture a niche of the market," Avant said. "We're going for a more upscale market and I think that market exists here."

The development is considered the first phase of the long-discussed Civic Plaza project, the remainder of which is a 3-acre site being studied by Durham-based Niemann Capital for a mixed-use project that will likely include residences, commercial space and a large park.

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Swiss govt to 'intervene in response to new Chinese luxury watch tax

2006-04-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

The Swiss economy ministry intends 'to intervene in the coming days at several levels' in response to China's decision to slap a 20 pct sales tax on luxury watches, a major export for the alpine country, HandelsZeitiung reported citing a spokesman for the ministry.

'The economy ministry sees China's new 20 pct tax on luxury watches as discrimination against Switzerland, because 99.6 pct of imported luxury watches in China originate in Switzerland,' spokesman Christophe Hans is quoted by the paper as saying.

The government will not refer the issue to the World Trade Organisation, although there would be grounds to do so, Hans added. The new tax has been in place since April 1.

Swiss watchmakers include Swatch Group AG and Compagnie Financiere Richemont AG, and booming sales in China have been a major growth driver in recent years.

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Horses bed down in luxury stables

2006-04-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

THE FIRST horses for the Grand National meeting have started to arrive at Aintree.This year a new stable yard has been opened to house some of the 350 animals which will race during the three days.The man responsible for making sure every horse is looked after is 60-year-old stable manager Derek Thompson.

The veteran of 38 Grand Nationals, who lives in Melling Road, has to satisfy every trainer that each horse will receive the first-class Aintree treatment. The stables will be cleaned out every day and the requested bedding provided so every hopeful sleeps well before their big race.

With horses often arriving at dawn, some of Derek's five-strong team are at the racecourse for 5am to welcome the arrivals. And it is the Irish contingent which are often the first to come to Aintree to avoid any potential problems with ferry crossings.

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Unlocking the DNA of luxury

2006-04-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

Only ten of the world's top 70 luxury brands produce 80 per cent of the profit. To better understand this elusive world, UK luxury goods consortium, Walpole commissioned Added Value to undertake a major research study across three continents. The study cracks 'the DNA Code' of luxury brands, categorises luxury consumers and compares their motivations in different markets, revealing that what drives consumers towards luxury brands is the most primal of triggers: the need to feel more desirable.

A major research study across three continents into what drives consumers towards luxury brands reveals it to be the most primal of triggers: the need to feel more desirable.

Commissioned by Walpole and undertaken by Added Value, the research cracks 'the DNA Code' of luxury brands, categorises luxury consumers and compares their motivations in different markets.

"One hundred years ago luxury businesses knew their customers. Often by sight. Today, too often, luxury brands don't really understand the fast-changing, varied and complex set of attitudes of the people who buy their products," says Guy Salter, deputy chairman of Walpole. "This is partly because there is surprisingly little good data compared to other consumer sectors. We commissioned this unique research to help to change that. We were particularly interested in comparing motivations of customers from different markets - and understanding what resonates with them and what doesn't."

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Living Control - The Luxury Touch of Multiroom AV

2006-04-02T15:53:00.000-07:00

It's a solid gold proposition, the answer to a prayer. Multiroom entertainment is the 'no-brainer' solution to the perennial conflict between decor and entertainment in the home. Its power resides in a promise improve access to entertainment and yet rid the home of multiple hi-fi systems, wires, racks and associated paraphernalia, leaving decor virtually unmolested. A virtuous liaison of convenience and aesthetic liberation has propelled the concept into new builds and renovations for over a decade, but the speed of take up is accelerating with a widening choice of delivery.

Basic Principles
The principle of multiroom entertainment is simple: a central source shared by many users in different locations. There are three types of system now available: the very rudimentary two room (or two zone) system, which relies on simple speaker level control of sound in the second zone from an amplifier in the first; a bespoke system, which is custom-installed and tailored precisely to user needs in terms of access and choice of source; and the newest category of system, which uses a PC as the source and a wireless network as a means of distribution.

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Hotels roll out luxury amenities

2006-04-01T17:20:00.000-08:00

Flat-screen televisions, satellite radio, spa treatments, yoga, vials of scented oil on pillows – Rhode Island hotels are spending lots of cash to offer luxury amenities to their guests. It's all about differentiating themselves by offering something that others don't. But the financial rewards of these expensive amenities remain unknown. Hotel managers say they think there is a return on investment of luxury, but don’t have the data to back it up.

"We're not able to measure it," said Stuart Meyerson, general manager at the Hyatt Regency Newport. The hotel does pay attention to guests, he said, but "there are no tools to measure the impact of additional amenities." Robert Kok, associate professor of hospitality management at Johnson & Wales University, said hotels have to add unique amenities, "or you don't compete." Yet there are also dangers in what he calls an "amenity creep," he added: Mid-sized hotels, especially, can lose customers if they increase their room rates to offset the cost of amenities.

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Style and luxury: just add water

2006-03-31T09:32:00.000-08:00

If you've got the cash to spare, then a Riva will run through it, reports David Lockwood.

It's Early on a Saturday morning and the weekend warriors haven't yet stirred. Not so the four-blade bronze propellers whirring astern of the brace of Riva motorboats. The floating fashion accessories from the prestige Italian yard are a seamless blend of old and new. Traditional lines, hand-beaten chrome fittings and classic column shifts meet high-tech diesel engines with two-speed automatic gearboxes, push-button onboard gadgetry, a lofty lux factor and, oh, a high price to match.

But if this is boating Italian-style then we must do the Italian thing first. Go hunting for attention. A roaring run down Port Jackson, a sweep past the Prime Minister's Kirribilli digs, a saunter before the teeth of Luna Park and across the gape of the Harbour Bridge, before a fling around the mouth of Circular Quay. Finally, a mad dash past the Opera Hose and down the jaws of a wind-swept Sydney Harbour. Oh, what fun ...

Though my eyes are streaming and the hair is horizontal I have no reason to doubt that we have stopped joggers in their tracks, the ferry masters near us are green with envy, and that black helicopter swooping overhead is taking a closer look. Later in the day, as the throngs emerge on the harbour, I catch anglers gazing from under floppy hats and other boaties looking with wonder.

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Basel shows off luxury to the world

2006-03-30T11:42:00.000-08:00

The Basel world watch and jewellery fair opens its doors on Thursday with high hopes that 2006 will prove another bumper year for the luxury goods sector. The Swiss watch industry will be particularly keen to put in another record performance after posting exports totalling more than SFr12 billion ($9.16 billion) in 2005.

But there was also a warning on the sidelines of this year's glamorous Baselworld event that the sparkle of gemstones comes at a high human price in the developing world. If analysts are to be believed, high demand in the luxury goods sector is set to continue in a world economy that has been steadily growing.

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Ritz-Carlton plans luxury mountain lodge at Tahoe area ski resort

2006-03-30T11:41:00.000-08:00

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company announced Wednesday it will operate a new luxury hotel planned at the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort near Truckee, California. Company officials say the 172-room Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe will be modeled after the upscale mountain lodges built in the West a century ago.

It is scheduled to open in late 2009. It will be part of a 300 million-dollar resort with ski-in, ski-out town homes, condominiums, restaurants, swimming pools and a spa.

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Qatar Airways taps HK market with luxury service

2006-03-27T10:42:00.000-08:00

Choosing dishes by a la carte plates, having a taste of caviar and served with individual tea sets...it's not a candle-light dinner in some fancy restaurant, but a cabin meal aboard Qatar Airway's flight to Hong Kong.

Just starting flying between Doha and Hong Kong, Qatar Airways announced Monday here that they will focus on luxury services such as the above to stand firm on Hong Kong's aviation market full of competition.

"In today's age of travel, customers are becoming more experienced and more demanding looking for more choice and the highest levels of service," Akbar Al Baker, the airline's chief executive officer, told a press conference on Monday.

Besides the extravagant cabin meals, the Middle East airline's Airbus A330 aircraft also features other luxury treatment for first and business class passengers, ranging from chairs can lie 180-degrees flat as a bed, 78-inch seat pitch to 15-inch personal LCD TV screens.

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Switzerland : Baselworld - Luxury goods show to begin on Mar 30

2006-03-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

The world's leading Watch and Jewellery Show to be held at Basel, Switzerland from March 30 to April 6, 2006.

As the world's biggest and most important showcase for the industry, BASELWORLD is the ideal place for conducting business and networking. BASELWORLD is the industry highlight of the year in an environment of increasing worldwide demand for luxury goods.

BASELWORLD 2006 – World Watch and Jewellery Show
Date: March 30th to April 6th 2006
Place: Exhibition Center Basel
Opening hours: Daily from 09.00 to 18.00
On the last day of the Show 09.00 to 16.00
Admission: Day ticket CHF 45.00 Students CHF 30.00 Pass for duration of Show CHF120.00
Organiser: MCH Swiss Exhibition (Basel) Ltd.

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Luxury by the Sea

2006-03-25T13:20:00.000-08:00

AS property prices continue to inch slowly upwards, developers have been busy presenting their new projects to catch the wave of positive sentiments from the ground. For the house hunter, the wide array of choice is quickly becoming a headache. What to buy? Where? New or old?

But if you like the east in particular, you'll be pretty spoilt for choice because there have been quite a number of launches there over the past few months. For instance, the newly-launched Meyer Residence in the popular Katong area should be an attractive draw to young couples and small families. Located along Meyer Place near Tanjung Rhu, it's a short drive from town and the fabulous eateries of the East Coast area.

This 19-storey freehold project has just 68 units, great for those who want some privacy and yet not feel stifled in a congested environment. Developed by Sing Holdings, most of the bigger three-bedroom units face the sea. But while it's just a short distance from the beach, it's far enough that you won't get the hum of the noisy East Coast Parkway (ECP).

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Caribbean Luxury Resorts Go High-Tech with IP

2006-03-22T08:40:00.000-08:00

NXTV, Inc., the provider of digital in-room entertainment, voice, and data services to luxury hotels worldwide, announced that its license partner in the Caribbean, Cable & Wireless, has signed long-term agreements with three St. Lucian Resorts with a total of 466 rooms. NXTV already provides systems to hotel and resort brands like Four Seasons, JW Marriott, Raffles, Omni, and W Hotels. Its in-room systems help transform guest stays into dynamic, interactive experiences.

Under the latest arrangement, the Coco Palm resort, the newest property on St. Lucia, is a 92-room, 4-star state-of-the-art hotel at Rodney Bay. It will be the first hotel to install the NXTV system. The resort is designed with a touch of French tradition, but the digital experience offered to guests will be anything but old-style. The C&W system will add modern day comforts, including WiFi, cable television, and on-demand video.

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Pamela Anderson Buys Luxury Las Vegas Condo

2006-03-22T08:37:00.000-08:00

Pamela Anderson is the new owner of a condo in a $1 billion luxury high rise in Las Vegas.

The developer of the building, Laurence Hallier, says the actress bought a 2-bedroom penthouse that has views of the Las Vegas Strip. He adds that similar condos in the building sell for $2 million.

The Associated Press reports that actors Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio are also rumored to have bought units in Panorama Towers.Hallier says Anderson's condo is not expected to be completed until the end of 2008.

He says, "She lives in Malibu. So for now she's fine."

Yvonne Lee - All Headline News

Luxury hotel inaugurated in Damascus

2006-03-22T08:35:00.000-08:00

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Wednesday inaugurated in Damascus a new 100-million-dollar luxury Four Seasons hotel, whose principal owner is Saudi tycoon billionaire Prince Al-Walid bin Talal.

One of the world's wealthiest men, Talal owns some 200 hotels, including Paris' George V and New York's Plaza. At the inauguration ceremony, he paid tribute to the country, saying he would "continue to invest in Syria despite the pressures" on it.

Syria, which contains a wealth of archeological and historical sites, is experiencing a new upsurge in tourism, even though it is under pressure from the West over its policies in the Middle East.

The 18-story Four Seasons, decorated in Ottoman, Persian and Syrian styles, is located in the center of the capital looking out on the Great Mosque. It has 297 rooms, 12 residential apartments, three restaurants and a spa. Talal owns 65 percent of the hotel, while the balance is held by the ministry of tourism and the Damascus municipality. –– AFP

Companies tap into trend of leasing luxury

2006-03-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

Ever want to borrow the latest Fendi bag for a month or drive around in a bright yellow Lamborghini for a day?

A number of companies are tapping into consumers' penchant for leasing luxury. They're targeting both the affluent who don't want to hold on to anything for long and those less monied folks who want to get a taste of the lifestyles of the rich.

Seattle-based online service Bag Borrow or Steal allows customers to borrow designer handbags through a monthly membership fee. New York-based Gotham Dream Cars LLC will deliver exotic cars like a Lamborghini Gallardo to customers' doorsteps for a rental fee ranging from $595 to $1,950 per day.

Golf manufacturer Callaway Golf Co. is making it easier for customers to trade in old golf clubs and get discounts on new ones at 4,000 golf stores and pro shops nationwide. The retailers get reimbursed for the price difference, and Callaway resells the old clubs on a Web site called callawaygolfpreowned.com.

Then there's Portero, a two-year-old online luxury exchange site that sells secondhand high-end electronics, fashion, jewelry, art, cars and home items. It now has 8,000 buyers and 6,000 sellers registered.

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Attitude is a luxury when selling to the high end

2006-03-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

Luxury Brands - and the sleek assistants who sell them - must lose their snooty attitude if they wish to survive in Australia, a visiting French marketing guru warned yesterday. "I walked into the Chanel store on Castlereagh Street in Sydney and I felt very intimidated by the attitude of the employees," luxury brands marketing professor Michel Phan said.

"Relationships with luxury brands start from that first point of contact, and if that is bad, if an employee is overly formal or intimidating, a potential customer is not going to come back." Professor Phan, who speaks at the "Australuxe - Selling Luxury" conference in Sydney today, urged brands to make themselves relevant to a younger customer base to ensure longevity.

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Global brand that means luxury - and James Bond

2006-03-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

Savile Row is the epicentre of bespoke tailoring and is envied around the globe. Men travel from as far afield as New York and San Francisco for what are considered to be the world's best suits.

"I can't think of another street that has almost become a brand in itself," says Carlo Brandelli, the creative director of Kilgour. "Whether you are in Tokyo or New York, Savile Row stands for prestige and luxury. It is synonymous with the impeccably dressed man, James Bond and England."

Firms such as Huntsman and Ede and Ravenscroft are masters of all the elusive qualities that major fashion brands seek, including unequalled customer service and a rich heritage.

When Tom Ford, the former Gucci supremo, announced his new menswear store opening in New York in the autumn, he described it as "a cross between a Savile Row tailor and an Italian fashion company".

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Luxury Resort opens in Exuma, Bahamas

2006-03-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

Grand Caribbean Resorts, Ltd., a Bahamian-based resort management company, is pleased to announce the opening of Grand Isle Villas, a new seaside residential resort. Grand Isle Villas, located in beautiful Great Exuma, Bahamas, is a new community of 72 luxurious ocean and golf course villas located within the 500-acre Emerald Bay Resort. Perfect for families, honeymooners, couples and intimate groups, these spacious two and three-bedroom villas provide the ultimate in luxury and comfort.

Grand Isle Villas is the perfect Caribbean getaway. The resort offers activities including golf on the incredibly beautiful Greg Norman designed golf course, sailing, swimming, charter fishing or exploring the many nearby uninhabited cays. Complimentary waters sports are also included and pampering at the nearby spa can be arranged. Grand Isle Villas also provides guests with a personal concierge who will arrange dining, either privately in your villa or at one of the several nearby restaurants. Villas are pre-stocked with guests food and beverage preferences prior to their arrival.

Grand Isle Villas offers spacious two- and three-bedroom villas which are available for purchase and resort rentals. Grand Isle Villas provides amenities that include twice daily housekeeping, au pere service and golf carts to use around the resort.

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In Accordance With Luxury And Comfort

2006-03-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

Chennai is fast transforming into a prominent Meetings Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) destination and a hub for business travellers and the growing number of chic business hotels in the city is a testimony to this trend. An embodiment of magnificence and elegance, the Accord Metropolitan located in the heart of the city and its commercial hub, though less than a year-old, has made its mark as a luxury business hotel.

The unique facade of the hotel sporting a kind of pergola for a roof is easily spotted from afar. The glass interiors in the lobby flood it with natural light, giving it an extremely spacious and bright look. The aesthetic marble flooring, white ceiling and rich maroon, silk drapes provide the lobby with a stylish, modern look and the intricately designed chandelier adds to the grandeur. The hotel lives up to its motto of "transcending hospitality" and it believes in exceeding the guest's expectations. The 162 lavish guest-rooms and suites are comfortable and welcoming. For the busy business traveller, the rooms are equipped with broadband and dial-up Internet access and with well-stocked mini-bars to unwind after a long day.

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Lexus Announces Pricing on GS 450h Luxury Gas/Electric Hybrid Sport Sedan

2006-03-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

The 2007 Lexus GS 450h, the world's first luxury performance hybrid sedan, goes on sale in early May with a base Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $54,900. Beyond its advanced gas/electric hybrid powertrain and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) stability control system, the base price includes a wide array of premium standard features typically offered as popular options on the GS 300 and GS 430.

"The GS 450h is a top-flight luxury performance sedan designed to have class-leading acceleration and responsiveness," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Bob Carter. "Like the RX 400h, it is a performance-luxury vehicle without compromise, with fewer emissions and improved fuel economy over competitive V8-powered luxury sedans."

A completely new Lexus hybrid powertrain propels the new GS 450h. The system combines a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a new compact, high-output, permanent magnet electric motor that drives the rear wheels. The transmission utilizes an advanced two-stage motor torque multiplication device for the Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) motor, delivering responsive and seamless acceleration with no power loss.

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England Enjoy Luxury At World Cup Hideaway

2006-03-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

If the England players are not yet convinced that a World Cup triumph awaits, they need only take in the scene from their mountaintop hotel in the Black Forest this summer to feel like lords of all creation. There are majestic vistas of the landscape near Germany's border with France. Such a panorama does not come cheap and this must be the grandest base the national team has ever occupied for a tournament.

England check in to the Schlosshotel Buhlerhohe on June 5, 2006 and hope to be resident there until they leave for the World Cup final in Berlin on July 9, 2006.

The only occupants will be the Football Association party of about 55 people and staff from BBC and ITV, who hold the British television rights.

When the status of an institution has to be measured, cost is a crass and convenient index. The presidential suite comes in at some $1,500 a night. It has been occupied by statesmen such as Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton, which testifies to the prestige of the Schlosshotel. One frivolously imagines David Beckham taking up residence in the suite, but the FA says it may be used only for group meetings. Perhaps, though, Sven-Goran Eriksson was staking a claim when he mentioned that he personally needed a room big enough for chats with his coaching staff.

Lauderdale developer plans $800 million luxury hotel near Orlando

2006-03-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

A Fort Lauderdale developer announced plans on Wednesday to build a 1,260-room Intercontinental hotel on Lake Bryan about four miles from the Orange County Convention Center.

The luxury hotel, which would be the largest Intercontinental in the world, will be called Palazzo del Lago. Hospitality Development Group plans to begin construction this fall. It is expected to open in early 2009 at a cost of $800 million.

The resort would contain 994 units in five 18-story towers called the Villas at Palazzo del Lago, a condominium hotel with prices starting at more than $300,000 each. The remainder of the rooms would be conventionally financed.

Luxury hotel in Oceanside is on track to open in 2009

2006-03-15T11:49:00.000-08:00

Plans for the downtown Oceanside luxury hotel overlooking the ocean are proceeding on schedule for a late 2009 opening. And members of the city Economic Development Commission were pleased to hear it last week from the developer, Jeremy Cohen, vice president of S.D. Malkin Properties of San Diego.

There were some minor glitches in the beginning with paperwork, Cohen said, but the project is back on track.

Cohen showed 43 slides briefing the commission on plans for the seven-story hotel with two ballrooms 9,000 square feet combined an adjacent boutique hotel and high-priced time shares.

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Luxury Hotel Opens In Iowa City

2006-03-13T10:34:00.000-08:00

A new luxury hotel is opening is opening its doors in eastern Iowa. The Plaza Towers And Hotel vetro opened for business in Iowa City today.

The towers includes: grocery store, resturant, conference room, condominiums and the Hotel Vetro. After four years of construction, the 13 floor plaza towers is the largest building in town.

Jay Leavessur of Hotel Vetro says: "There's a pulse to it theres going to be a lot of artwork a lot of natural light, glass, stainless steal it has a very modern look but a lot of energy behind it as well."

The Hotel Vetro is also smoke-free.

Charles Street to get luxury bath showroom

2006-03-13T10:31:00.000-08:00

A distributor of high-end faucets and other home hardware products will open a showroom this summer on Charles Street in Mount Vernon.

Retail and development experts were optimistic about Bath Time Inc.'s success, in spite of some of the turnover among Charles Street tenants over the years and the recent closing of a popular, long-standing sushi restaurant. The move will bring a unique destination retailer that will get a boost from high-end condominium projects under development, several retail sources said.

Bath Time Inc. will open an 8,000-square-foot showroom at 1010 N. Charles St., replacing H. Chambers Interior Design, which moved to Montgomery Park, a 56-acre office complex, a month ago.

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Ground broken for luxury rental tower in Long Island City

2006-03-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

Empire State Development Corp. Chairman Charles Gargano joined local elected officials and business leaders Wednesday for the groundbreaking of Avalon Riverview North, an upscale 39-story Long Island City housing complex is expected to produce more than 600 rental units.

The completion of the 600,000-square-foot building will end phase one of the Queens West Development project, Gargano said. "I am pleased to be here today and excited that we are taking another step forward in the redevelopment of Queens West, as we continue to bring this unique and valuable treasure on the East River to its full potential," he said. Gargano said the building should be ready for occupancy in late 2007 and that the building will also feature 2,750 square feet of retail space.

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In the lap of luxury

2006-03-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

From bathrooms worth a fortune to private golf courses and parks, the word "luxury" is being redefined in these premium developments.

A fully equipped gym with sauna and steam, a massage chair and a jacuzzi - all fitted into your master bathroom. This is not one man's fanatsy - it is a norm that 105 families enjoy in The Forest, Noida, developed by Omaxe Constructions.

And that's not all - there's an exclusive cigar lounge for the residents, and the 6,000 sq ft penthouses boast of private terrace gardens and swimming pools in each flat.

Ahuja Developers in Mumbai will offer you bathrooms with Grohe showers that cost over a lakh each, gold-plated taps, Portuguese in-laid marble lobbies, Italian soundproof windows and onyx kitchen platforms.

Others make do with car parks with exclusive Bisazza tiles, hand-painted murals in the lobby, skid-proof car parks, your own personal remote control to open electronically controlled gates and security television-phones at every door.

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Luxury yacht companies target Dubai International Boat Show

2006-03-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

The Dubai International Boat Show 2006, organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre, will host many of the world's luxury boat builders, waterside developers, interior design companies, charters and brokers at this month's show.

Top end custom yacht builders such as Amels, Azimut-Benetti, CRN/Custom Line, Lurssen and Trinity Yachts will line up alongside property developers including Nakhleel, Dubai Maritime City and Dubai Festival City, in an impressive 2,550 square metre air conditioned area at the Dubai International Marine Club, for what will be the largest exhibition of leisure boats, equipment and services in the Middle East.

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Luxury on the Orient Express: The ultimate train experience

2006-03-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

It may not be the longest train journey in the world, a record currently held by the 9,288.2 km (5,787 miles) Trans-Siberian Railway.

Nor is it the most strikingly scenic: The Glacier Express in Switzerland, and Vietnam's Reunification Express both offer views of mountains and jungle respectively -- that make most other train routes look positively mundane.

Nor is it even the world's most exclusive rail experience with a maximum of 22 passengers per trip, touring France in the über-chic Palladium probably deserves that title.

For sheer luxury, character, panache and historical resonance, however, no train journey on earth can quite match a trip aboard the legendary Orient Express, a locomotive that justifiably bears the nickname "King of Trains."

"It is quite simply the ultimate luxury train experience," says UK rail expert Mark Smith.

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Plans call for luxury condo high-rise in Atlantic City

2006-03-07T09:06:00.000-08:00

Developers in Florida and Pennsylvania are working on what appears to be a $90 million, 38-story luxury condominium complex on the Board-walk next to the Showboat Casino-Hotel.

The plans now in the city's planning office show 25,000 square feet of retail space and 425 one- and two-bedroom condominium units. The top two floors would hold 10 two-story, two-bedroom units. The plans say the project could be built in two years.

The proposal could mean the end of rumors that a smaller "boutique casino" would be built in the same general area of the city's South Inlet neighborhood. How-ever, in the filings, the plans refer to the building as both “The North Beach Club Resort & Residential Development” and "North Beach Club Casino Resort and Residen-ces."

The developers, North Beach Holdings LLC, also own about 20 acres of vacant land in that neighborhood, assessed at $20,933,900.

The plans come at a time when city development seems increasingly geared toward upscale resort high-rise condominiums. It also comes as the city is contemplating updating its master plan to allow more residential development in the Southeast Inlet.

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Arizona tops $1 billion in luxury home sales in 2005

2006-03-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

With Scottsdale and Paradise Valley leading the way, Arizona became one of the seven states with over $1 billion in sales of luxury homes during 2005. A study by Coldwell Banker on the nation's hottest luxury home markets ranked Paradise Valley ninth among 75 cities in the United States, with $637 million in luxury home sales. Scottsdale ranked 10th with nearly $594 million in sales.

The two East Valley cities ranked highest in the increase in luxury home sales volume in 2005 compared to the year before. Paradise Valley increased 251 percent and jumped 43 places in the rankings, while Scottsdale increased 205 percent, rising 37 places from the 2004 standings.

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Plans for luxury hotel complex still on track

2006-03-07T09:02:00.000-08:00

Plans to build a luxury hotel complex just outside Barnard Castle are still on track according to the company backing its development.

Directors of Primula Ltd have commissioned a series of environmental surveys to be carried out on Humbleton Farm with a view to building a 120-room hotel, 18-hole golf course and 150 chalet lodges.

Other amenities currently being touted by the developers include tennis courts, a swimming pool, spa and leisure centre.

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M&C Saatchi in luxury brand venture

2006-03-07T08:59:00.000-08:00

M&C Saatchi is launching a premier brands unit called Provenance to lure luxury goods makers, many of whom create their advertising campaigns in-house.

The subsidiary has been set up to assist luxury brands deal with the growing complexity of their marketing strategies. Big spenders from Russia and China are becoming just as important to luxury brands as their more traditional counterparts in the UK and US.

Some ad agencies have poured scorn on the marketing efforts of premier brands, saying they use too many clichéd images and lack the "big ideas" to make campaigns successful.

Jane Boardman, Provenance chairman, said: "As the sector grows they will have to look outside for professional help. They want better quality people working with them and people who can do everything." Boardman added that Provenance would not be assigning a full-time creative executive to the project in order to underline its "supportive" role.

Experience The High Life With Luxury Yacht Charters

2006-02-28T12:32:00.000-08:00

A vacation is something that we all look forward to in order to enjoy some rest and relaxation, and some serious time out from the hustle and bustle of every day life. However, all too often we find the destination to which we travel overcrowded with other tourists, which means that we often end up taking the hustle and bustle of normal life with us on vacation.

When you opt for luxury yacht charters you can rest assured that you will have the ideal vacation, combining the rest and relaxation that you crave with the opportunity to see some spectacular sights and enjoy a wide range of excitement. With luxury yacht charters you can cruise the seas and soak up the sunshine, and you can still dock and visit the places you wish safe in the knowledge that you can return to the peace and tranquillity of your own yacht when you are ready to do so.

This is fast becoming a popular way to enjoy the ultimate vacation, and whether you are planning to take a loved one on a romantic trip or whether you are planning a family vacation, this is the ideal solution to a once in a lifetime holiday to remember.

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Amazon buys company dedicated to luxury brands

2006-02-28T12:31:00.000-08:00

It seemed as though Amazon.com had given up on the strategy of buying its way into merchandise categories.

But with Monday's announcement of its purchase of Shopbop.com, a Madison, Wis. based Web site dedicated to luxury brands such as Marc by Marc Jacobs and True Religion -- Amazon is again dabbling in the game plan that made the company get big fast at the turn of the century.

"As a category, shopping experiences in apparel are much more fragmented and diverse than many others that we are in," said Russ Grandinetti, vice president of Amazon's Apparel and Accessories store.

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Lust for Luxury Drives Paris Fashion Shows

2006-02-27T08:56:00.000-08:00

Global hunger for luxury goods means big bucks for the Paris fashion industry even though high unemployment and weak growth are making European consumers more thrifty.

Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto kicked off a week of glitzy displays in the first major show of the Paris autumn-winter collection late on Sunday, parading models in oversize men's suits with coats draped like blankets over their shoulders.

"Hiding the body is always mysterious and sexy," the soft-spoken Yamamoto told Reuters after the show. "It's not like those tiny little cheap things."

Catwalk shows are a costly affairs for fashion houses but they are an important publicity event. Companies hope to lure the attention of consumers not only to the clothes but also to a brand's accessories such as hand bags or perfumes.

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The Flying Luxury Hotel of Tomorrow

2006-02-27T08:53:00.000-08:00

Cruise ship will sail through the air, not the water. This is not a Blimp. It's a sort of flying Queen Mary 2 that could change the way you think about air travel. It's the Aeroscraft, and when it's completed, it will ferry pampered passengers across continents and oceans as they stroll leisurely about the one-acre cabin or relax in their well-appointed staterooms.

Unlike its dirigible ancestors, the Aeroscraft is not lighter than air. Its 14 million cubic feet of helium hoist only two thirds of the craft's weight. The rigid and surprisingly aerodynamic body driven by huge rearward propeller generates enough additional lift to keep the behemoth and its 400-ton payload aloft while cruising.

During takeoff and landing, six turbofan jet engines push the ship up or ease its descent.

This two-football-fields-long concept airship is the brainchild of Igor Pasternak, whose privately-funded California firm, Worldwide Aeros Corporation, is in the early stages of developing a prototype and expects to have one completed by 2010.

Luxury Institute Ultra-Luxury Watches Survey: Ultra-Wealthy Consumers Select the Best Watches

2006-02-27T08:48:00.000-08:00

-In the new world of transparency, the consumer has the final say and in the latest Ultra-Luxury Watches Brand Status Index survey, conducted by the New York City-based Luxury Institute, Franck Muller earned top honors as the most prestigious purveyor in the Ultra-Luxury Watches segment (score of 80), as rated and ranked by America's penta-millionaires. Patek Phillipe placed second with 79; Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, and Breguet tied for third place in a field of superstar brands.

"The results indicate that the top brands differ in perception along different dimensions of the pillars of a luxury brand, said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. "It was a close ratings process overall, but with different winners in the individual pillars of luxury. Patek was rated best in consistently superior quality, and as the brand that delivers the most social status. Franck Muller distinguished itself as the truly unique and exclusive brand and the brand that can make the acquirer feel special across the entire customer experience. It was also rated most worthy of a significant price premium."

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Dior joins the luxury goods rush in India

2006-02-21T09:17:00.000-08:00

CHRISTIAN Dior has opened its first retail outlet in India, featuring $US1000 ($1354) handbags and $US400 sunglasses, as the country emerges as one of the fastest-growing markets for luxury goods.

Pierre Denis, managing director for the French luxury goods maker's Asia operations, said the company had followed the rise in demand for its haute couture from the increasingly frequent visits by Indian customers to its stores in the Middle East, London, and Paris.

"We thought perhaps it was time to establish ourselves in India," he said. "Luxury is part of the worldwide opening of India."

In India, Christian Dior joins an existing group of luxury retailers including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Cartier, Fendi, Bulgari, and Dolce & Gabbana. Others such as Gucci, Valentino, and Versace are on their way. "More and more people are becoming aware of global trends, and this is being reflected in their tastes and fashions," said Deepankar Sanwalka, head of consumer markets for KPMG.

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Luxury home sales jump 33% in area

2006-02-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

Luxury-priced homes sold at a 33 percent greater clip in seven Northern California counties in 2005 than in 2004, according to a new study by Alain Pinel Realtors, one of the largest privately-owned residential real estate companies in the country.

Alain Pinel Realtors, based in Saratoga, measured previously occupied home sales priced at $2.5 million or greater in comparing last year with 2004.

During 2005, 733 homes sold at $2.5 million or more in the seven counties of Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa, compared with the 552 that sold in 2004 at that price or greater.

Three counties -- Monterey, San Mateo and Alameda -- showed gains in the median price of homes sold above $2.5 million while three counties, Santa Cruz, Contra Costa and San Francisco, experienced declines in the median price of homes sold at this level. Santa Clara County was even on a year-to-year basis, with the median sale price for both 2004 and 2005 at $3 million, according to the study.

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Former Luxury Motor Yacht of Monaco Royalty Offered for Sale by Baja Yachts

2006-02-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, February 21, 2006 Baja Yachts, a worldwide Internet-based yacht brokerage, has been chosen to assist in the sale of the 147-foot former royal yacht for the late Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco.

"We're thrilled to be a part of promoting this beautiful yacht," says James Truett, whose company, TrueStar Marketing, owns Baja Yachts. "Imagine what it's like to be aboard a boat with such a rich history."

The luxurious Camper & Nicholsons steel yacht is being offered for sale by her current owner for $535,000 Euros.

Built in 1928, the vessel was a wedding present from Aristotle Onassis to the Prince when he married former actress Grace Kelley. The couple spent their honeymoon aboard the yacht, known then as "Deo Juvante II".

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Developer Zaps $150M Luxury Condominium Project in Miami

2006-02-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

The 1390 Brickell Bay condominium tower, which was planned for a one-acre site near Miami's posh Brickell Avenue, has joined a growing list of doomed luxury projects. The 49-story, 364-unit development has become a casualty of a faltering market, characterized by stiff competition, ever higher construction costs, a shortage of labor and materials and the new-found thriftiness of lenders. In addition, the developer succumbed to the wrath of mother nature, which inflicted several hurricanes on South Florida last summer and fall.

Kenneth Baboun, president of the BBB Group, originally estimated the project, which was 90 percent sold out, to cost $150 million. He has notified buyers that he was returning their deposits plus interest.

Inexperience of the developer is another contributing factor to the failure of some condominium projects today, Michael Cannon, managing director of the South Florida office of Integra Realty Resources, told CPN this afternoon. Baboun is the 25-year son of Jose Baboun, who is a member of a family-run, residential and commercial development firm in Mexico.

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Luxury car sales now on rise

2006-02-17T10:06:00.000-08:00

"Think big" seems to be the order of the day. The splurge in the car sale fashion backs this notion. The increased sales of luxury cars like Mercedes-Benz and other high profile vehicles are the sure result of popular trend.

Annual sales of luxury cars have risen constantly and it’s still on rise. Gone are the days when people thought that purchasing a car was a difficult job. Now with the outcome of cheap car loans the indulgence in cars has increased.
A luxury car unit has made an operating profit of 1m euros in the last three months of 2005.

Industry insiders say that this increase in profits has been due to the job cut that this sector has undertaken. But whatever the speculations say Car loans definitely have a major role to play.

Luxury Travel Search Offers Free Property Advertising

2006-02-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

Drake and Cavendish, a new online travel site which features a luxury travel search engine, has announced that it will offer luxury hotel and villa owners a free targeted advertising opportunity on its site. Their property’s suitability for the site permitting, owners will receive a standard advert listing which will include descriptions, images and contact details within a user-friendly, searchable database. Property owners will have the ability to regularly update the pitch presented on Drake and Cavendish’s site, check statistics on the number of click-throughs for their property, and provide links to their own websites where customers may book reservations directly.

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Oakley Buys Luxury Eyewear Maker

2006-02-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

Oakley Inc., whose high-tech sunglasses are worn by world-class athletes in several sports, said Wednesday that it bought privately held Oliver Peoples Inc., whose classic spectacles have been seen on celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

The acquisition — valued at $46.7 million, excluding the assumption of debt and incentives — is the first in the 35-year history of Foothill Ranch-based Oakley. Company executives said the deal with Oliver Peoples would enable Oakley to extend its reach while remaining true to its own branding.

"We are partnering with someone whose products are a little more premium, a little more fashionable and in a zone of the market that would not be appropriate for us to do with the Oakley brand," Chief Executive Scott Olivet said. "So we looked at who would be a great partner in that and we found them."

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Creating the Luxury Store Experience

2006-02-07T08:17:00.000-08:00

A great selling staff and a strong brand identity are, of course, essential tools to clinch a sale, but they need to be utilized to full advantage in a venue that will attract customers. And that, say the experts, is a matter of offering comfort and convenience, atmosphere and ambience...and more.

"Number one is you have to have aesthetics," explains Milton Pedraza, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Luxury Institute, an independent research institution that focuses on the top 10 percent of America’s wealthy. "It's the backdrop, the background for everything. Number two is it needs to be a friendly, inviting, convenient, comfortable environment."

And everything in that environment is important, explains Jean Gipe, professor in apparel merchandising and management, California State Polytechnic University Pomona. "Basically, you're talking about every aspect of the interior of the store. But there's more than that. There are all the additionals: the music that's playing or any scent or sound. It's really how being in that environment affects the five senses and whether the shopper is unconsciously saying, 'I like being here.'

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Royal Caribbean Shoots for Ultra-Luxury

2006-02-06T08:21:00.000-08:00

Raising the stakes in the effort to claim bragging rights to be No. 1, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines announced today that it has ordered what will be the world's largest and most expensive cruise ship ever, under the project name "Genesis."

Set for a Fall 2009 delivery, the ship will house 5,400 guests and will cost an estimated $1 billion to build by Finnish shipbuilder Aker Yards.

"It is exhilarating to take such a giant step into the future," said Royal Caribbean chairman and CEO Richard Fain, in a statement. "We are fortunate to have such gifted collaborators as Aker Yards, and such valued supporters and advisors as our guests and trade partners. Project Genesis truly is a remarkable ship.”

Yrjo Julin, president of Aker Yards Cruise and Ferries, estimates Project Genesis will take 5,800 man-years to complete. Aker Yards has delivered 11 ships to Royal Caribbean over the last four decades.

Luxury watches lift Swatch sales, bullish for 2006

2006-02-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

Strong demand for Swatch Group's luxury watch brands helped boost gross sales by 8.3 percent to record levels in 2005, in line with expectations, and the company said it expected "very solid" growth in 2006.

The world's biggest watch maker also said it would launch a new 300 million-franc share buyback programme on Thursday as it reported gross sales rose to 4.497 billion Swiss francs ($3.5 billion) for 2005.

The figure compares with analysts' expectations of 4.478 billion francs. Swatch Group bearer shares, which have risen 7 percent so far this year, were up 1.9 percent at 212.60 francs by 1005 GMT. "I'm pleased. It is a record result, and also the mix has improved because of the strong increase in luxury watches," said Urs Diethelm, an analyst at Sal. Oppenheim.

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Luxury is the bottom line

2006-01-30T10:16:00.000-08:00

BRITONS are taking good care of their bottoms and developing more luxurious toilet paper tastes, figures out today show.

The days of scratchy toilet paper are over - sales of thicker and softer varieties have increased while more functional, recycled paper is falling out of favour.

New products out are responding to the trend towards treating your tush, including tissue with soothing aloe vera added.

Recycled toilet paper suffered a 20 per cent drop in sales to £36.3million in the last year, market analysts ACNielsen said.
Meanwhile soft toilet paper sales rose 29 per cent to £105million in the year ending December 2005.

Decorated paper also seems to be going down the toilet with sales fallen by 22 per cent to £5million. The total toilet tissue market is worth £868million per year, according to data gathered from retailers.

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By 2055, travel will be a rare luxury

2006-01-27T10:50:00.000-08:00

The right to travel when and where we please will be severely eroded over the next 50 years as the shortage of cheap oil and environmental concerns force us to lead more local lives, according to a British government report.

Every journey will have to be justified, and face-to-face contact with colleagues, friends and relatives will increasingly become a luxury, with most meetings taking place via three-dimensional "telepresencing".

Foresight, the Government's science think tank, consulted 300 transport experts when drawing up its vision of how travel will change by 2055. It concludes that the growing demand for greater personal mobility is unsustainable and based on false notions.

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2006 Infiniti M45, Luxury Sports Sedan Ready to Roll

2006-01-26T11:58:00.000-08:00

Infiniti's M45 is a ready to romp luxury sports sedan that offers both technology and luxury at a price point in the $40,000-$50,000 range. It comes in four forms with our choice being the less expensive six-cylinder M35 version. Also available are an all wheel drive model, the V8 M45 with its 335 horsepower, and a sport model with Rear Active Steering.

Mom's View: This is an executive vehicle and quite capable of handling any situation with its big V8 motivation, smooth five speed transmission, and abundance of features.

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Luxury Consumption Index Reaches 104.8 Points as Luxury Consumers Express Confidence in Economy

2006-01-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

Luxury consumers' confidence rose 10.4 points to reach an all time high at the end of fourth quarter 2005, according to Unity Marketing's exclusive Luxury Consumption Index. This comes after it dropped to 94.4, its lowest point ever, at the end of the third quarter 2005. The index measures luxury consumer feelings about their personal financial status and the prospects for the country as a whole.

"Luxury consumers' attitudes about the economy and their personal financial status have sea-sawed over the last six months, but ended 2005 with a strong upward trend," said Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing and author of Let Them Eat Cake: Marketing Luxury to the Masses -- as well as the Classes.

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Mercedes' $100,000 baby is ultimate in luxury

2006-01-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

As I slide behind the wheel of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550, I'm faced with a tough decision. What kind of a massage do I want?

A screen on the instrument panel lists the options for the driver's seat: Slow and gentle, slow and vigorous, fast and gentle or fast and vigorous.

I select "slow and gentle" and start out on a 300-mile journey in mid-January.

The high-tech massaging seat is just a small part of the technology-packed new Mercedes-Benz flagship sedan.

In fact, the S550 is so advanced that the company's media launch included a lengthy afternoon technical session prior to the drive. The session educated reporters on the intricacies of such new options as "Distronic Plus," a radar-based adaptive cruise control that basically takes over accelerating and braking of the car from a dead stop. Most other cruise controls systems only work at speeds over 20 mph or higher.

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Trump Plans Luxury Condos

2006-01-24T10:10:00.000-08:00

Donald Trump said yesterday that he would build a 45-story luxury condominium high-rise along the Delaware waterfront called Trump Tower Philadelphia.

The $190 million project - similar to Trump Tower buildings planned for Las Vegas; Tampa, Fla.; and Chicago - will consist of at least 250 units on Penn Street near the foot of Spring Garden Street, with construction to begin this summer and completion expected in mid-2008.

"I'm really excited about this project," Trump, the developer, casino mogul and reality-television star, said yesterday from his office in New York City. "It will be the tallest building on the waterfront. It is going to be really beautiful."

Trump Tower would be five stories higher than the 40-story towers being built nearby at Waterfront Square at 900 Penn St. Trump would not disclose the exact address, saying his company was in the middle of completing the land purchase.

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Touching the Sky: Connecticut's Luxury Home Market

2006-01-24T10:08:00.000-08:00

The town of Clinton sits on Connecticut's Long Island Sound coast just off Interstate 95. Clinton features beautiful waterfront properties and all the charm of New England town life. A pristine 900-square-foot Cape home sits on a private beach in Clinton waiting to be purchased - for a cool $1.2 million. By the real estate market's standards, this cute Cape qualifies as "luxury" in Connecticut.

"We consider anything over $1 million to be a luxury home," explains Andrea Shiffrin, Realtor, ABR, SRES, with Coldwell Banker Connecticut, formerly William Orange Realty (BNH, October 31, 2005). The state's luxury home market presents homebuyers with several distinct real estate niches. In the $1 million to $2 million range, Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties offer beachfront living, in-town historic homes, older construction homes with extensive acres of land, and suburban communities with all-new construction.

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Hilton Nears Merger, Launches Luxury Hotel Brand

2006-01-23T11:02:00.000-08:00

Hilton Hotels Corp. last month took its biggest step toward reunifying with its U.K.-based namesake with an agreement signed in the last days of 2005 to acquire the lodging assets of Hilton Group plc. The deal—subject to a nod from shareholders, governmental clearances and the securing of more than $5.5 billion in funds—is expected to close late next month or in early March, Hilton Hotels Corp. president and COO Matt Hart said last week.

The reattachment of its international arm—severed for more than 40 years—adds more than 400 hotels to the portfolio of Hilton Hotels Corp., which upon completion "will be the largest and most geographically diverse lodging company in the world, with nearly 2,800 hotels and 475,000 rooms in 80 countries," Hilton said in a statement.

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Ex-Starwood Chief Plans Luxury Chain

2006-01-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

Barry Sternlicht's Starwood Capital set plans to launch a new international luxury brand called the Crillon and said it would develop European-style Crillon hotels and serviced residences in major destinations throughout the world.

Sternlicht, the exec behind the Starwood chain who left last year to chart his own course, said the Crillon's flagship is the Hotel de Crillon in Paris, located on Place de la Concorde and one of only six six-star palace hotels in that city.

The Crillon brand will build on Paris' Hotel de Crillon's name recognition and reputation for impeccable service among discerning travellers internationally. Starwood Capital plans to develop Crillon hotels on its own and to partner with other developers and owners and will target properties in the world's most sophisticated cities, which may include London, Rome, Barcelona, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai and Qatar. Resort destinations may follow in one-of-a-kind locations in the Caribbean, the Far East and in ski markets like Starwood's recently acquired Mammoth Mountain in California. Starwood Capital is already working on sites in several of these cities with potential partners.

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Luxury and water still a potent mix

2006-01-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

The holiday home property wave has broken but, for the time being at least, living on millionaires' row means there won't be a wipeout. While other beach house sales flounder, luxury home markets in locations such as the Gold Coast, Portsea and Margaret River have powered into 2006. In those markets, multi-million-dollar houses and apartments are selling strongly while other agents complain of their worst lead up to Christmas in a decade.

On the Gold Coast, PRDnationwide agent Doug Green sold three luxury homes for more than $13 million in less than three weeks in the lead up to Christmas.

One of those was the Surfers Paradise riverfront residence of the late Brian and Kathy Ray, who died last year in an aircraft accident in the Victorian snowfields.

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Developer known for natural touches, luxury homes picks Franklin

2006-01-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

Crescent Resources, the development arm of Duke Energy that's built some of the most coveted residential communities in Charlotte and at Lake Norman, is stepping into the Triangle with a 120-home project in Franklin County.

A company known for its affinity for natural spaces and water features, Crescent chose a 588-acre site about three miles due north of Youngsville because it is heavily wooded, rolling land with a private lake. A third of the homes will snuggle near the 80-acre lake.

Prices for home sites - from one to six acres - in the gated community to be known as Cedar Lake will range from $150,000 to more than $500,000. Home prices will start at around $800,000.

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Cruise ships offer new property investment opportunity

2006-01-20T18:35:00.000-08:00

Property investors in America could soon have a novel new investment prospect in the shape of cruise ships converted into apartments.

A shortage of waterfront property on America's Gulf Coast prompted Florida entrepreneur Mark Boyd to assemble a group of investors to purchase cruise ships being sold off by cruise companies and convert the cabins into apartments.

Each apartment suite will cost between $249,000 (£141,875) and $529,000 (£301,464) to purchase and will be subject to a service charge, or ground rent, of between $7,000 (£3,989) and $10,000 (£5,698) a year.

The $15 million annual bill for operating a mid-size luxury cruise ship will be financed by a combination of the ground rent as well as ongoing casino and nightclub operations aboard the ship.

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Sotheby's International Realty Luxury Network Expands to Nashville

2006-01-20T18:33:00.000-08:00

Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates, Inc. today announced that its luxury real estate network has expanded to serve the Nashville, Tenn., area. Lipman Realty, Inc., a prestigious firm that specializes in homes in Nashville's highly desired neighborhoods, will now do business as The Lipman Group Sotheby's International Realty.

The firm will be able to offer its clients exclusive Sotheby's International Realty® services, including advertising and business resources that help market significant homes to qualified buyers around the country and world.

"We became attracted to Lipman Realty because of its reputation of providing access to extraordinary homes and dedication to client service excellence," said Michael R. Good, president & CEO of Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates, Inc. "Our network only aligns itself with leading firms that value a high level of client service, and we are very honored to welcome The Lipman Group into our family. Our exclusive resources will enable The Lipman Group to provide exclusive Sotheby's International Realty services to buyers and sellers in the Nashville market."

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New spa caters to luxury Sundara Day Spa opens on Barre-Montpelier Road

2006-01-19T12:44:00.000-08:00

In a relaxing atmosphere of warm desert tones and natural wood, two licensed cosmetologist/estheticians have opened a luxury treatment business in Berlin.

Sundara Day Spa is located on the Barre Montpelier Road in a newly renovated space which formerly was home to the Single Pebble Chinese Restaurant. An exotic sense of the East continues here, both because of the name and interior design of the spa. "Sundara" is a Sanskrit word meaning "beautiful."

Sundara is the first spa in Vermont to feature classic Ayurvedic skin care through Sundari products, which are usually found only in larger luxury establishments such as Ritz Carlton Hotels and the Kenyon Ranches. The appropriate Sundari products are selected for each client to suit individual skin needs, the owners said.

Marion Nelson and Roxanne Smith, owners and operators of Sundara Day Spa, are both native Vermonters. Nelson grew up on a small farm in Jonesville and Roxanne on a large dairy farm in Salisbury.

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Record number of luxury homes sold in 2005

2006-01-19T11:09:00.000-08:00

A record number of luxury homes were sold in Bermuda in 2005 according to figures released yesterday by Coldwell Banker Previews International.
The sale of 30 luxury homes – classified as any home priced at or above $2.5 million – represents a 100 percent increase over 2004 when just 15 homes in this category sold.
The highest priced property last year sold for $10 million which is not a record.
Coldwell Banker Previews International realtor Brian Madeiros said that it is "phenomenal" that the market produced 30 such sales.
"It shows that price bands and the luxury market are really starting to rise," he said.
"Bermudians have been the prime drivers of our luxury home market and that has occurred because Bermudians are really benefiting from our international business sector and the local service sector which supports that group," Mr. Madeiros said.
The typical home buyer is "younger, more affluent and lives in Bermuda" according to Coldwell Banker's statistics for luxury home buyers last year which show that 60 percent of those buyers had kids under 20, while 70 percent of them were aged 40-50 and 60 percent were Bermudian.

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Luxury Institute Retailer Survey Finds Nordstrom Rated #1 in Customer Experience by America's Wealthy

2006-01-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

Wealthy customers voted Nordstrom the brand that delivers the best customer experience with a category-leading rating of 84 in the new Luxury Customer Experience Index survey (LCEI) from New York-based Luxury Institute. Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus were second and third with respective scores of 81 and 80.

Wealthy customers rated seven of the largest luxury retail brands based on direct individual experiences with each company. These included (alphabetical order): Barney's, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale's, Brooks Brothers, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Cars: Luxury diesel 407 to break ground in NZ

2006-01-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

Peugeot is to break new ground on the New Zealand car market with the launch of an environmentally friendly luxury coupe.

The new two-door Peugeot 407 coupe, planned to arrive here in late February, will be available with an efficient and powerful 2.7-litre V6 diesel engine.

It is the first time a diesel-powered up-market sports coupe model has been offered in New Zealand.

"The arrival of the 407 coupe HDi V6 marks another advance in the widening popularity of diesel cars," said Rod Cunningham, Marketing Manager for Sime Darby Automobiles, the New Zealand importer and distributor of Peugeot vehicles.

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Hilton launches new luxury brand

2006-01-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

Hilton Hotels Corp. on Tuesday launched a new luxury brand named after its landmark Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York as part of its plans to expand internationally after a recent acquisition.

The Waldorf-Astoria Collection, which would compete with other luxury hotel brands such as Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc.'s St. Regis and Marriott International Inc.'s Ritz-Carlton, would be a combination of co-branding existing hotels and new properties, said Chief Operating Officer Matthew Hart.

"We are not doing it as a response to them," Hart said, referring to Starwood and Marriott. "We are doing it because we think there is a big opportunity .... We have the potential to go into markets that before this we couldn't."

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Downhill all the way: The ultimate skiing holiday

2006-01-16T13:38:00.000-08:00

For those who like to combine skiing with pampering, a high-octane day on the slopes with a low-key evening sipping champagne in a hot-tub, physical exertion with relentless cosseting -- for those, in short, who like their ski holidays luxurious -- then the Game Creek Chalet in Vail, Colorado, is the place for you.

Set 10,500 feet up in the secluded splendor of the Rocky Mountains, the chalet is accessible only by Sno-Cat -- a vehicle specially adapted for traversing snowy terrain -- and, at a wallet-chilling $2,800 per night, offers everything the moneyed skier could possibly want or require.

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Life-changing experiences are key to luxury market

2006-01-16T13:36:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer spending on luxury goods rose 3.8 percent last year, and is poised to grow more in 2006 as middle-income shoppers opt for high-class brands and wealthy consumers turn to luxury experiences, retail experts said on Sunday.

Speaking at the National Retail Federation's annual convention in New York, Unity Marketing President Pam Danziger said the average amount spent by an affluent household -- one whose annual income exceeds $75,000 -- rose to $52,588 in 2005 from $50,640 in 2004.

Spending on luxury experiences, including travel, dining, entertainment, spas and beauty services and home services, nearly doubled from an average of $11,632 in 2004 to $22,746 in 2005.

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'Brabus' likely to launch luxury sedans in India

2006-01-15T00:31:00.000-08:00

New Delhi, Jan. 15 (PTI): Luxury Mercedes cars are dime a dozen in India, but ultra-rich Indians would soon be able to make their machines that symbolise power and prestige stand apart from the crowd, courtesy German bespoke carmaker 'Brabus'.

The German company, which specialises in enhancing engine performance of Mercedes and Maybach vehicles by increasing both power and torque, is planning to launch its "highly individual" products in India this year.

Though its primary focus is on extracting maximum engine performance to produce the fastest street-legal luxury sedans, Brabus also provides improvements to the interior, from upholstery to trim to various electronics.

"We are in talks with two Mercedes Benz dealers in Mumbai and one in New Delhi to introduce our highly individual products," Brabus' Constantin Buschmann, said.

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Caymen Islands attends luxury travel show in Vegas

2006-01-13T16:04:00.000-08:00

The Cayman Islands attended the Luxury Travel Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada last month, represented by a team from the Ministry of Tourism and Department of Tourism, led by Minister of Tourism Charles Clifford.

“The Luxury Travel Expo provided the Cayman Islands with a great opportunity to showcase its luxury product and to network with travel agents who specialize in selling high–end vacations,” said Minister Clifford.

The Luxury Travel Expo is the world’s largest gathering of travel professionals dedicated to the luxury market and it provides an unrivalled education programme for travel agents. The DoT was a part of this educational programme, conducting several travel agent seminars which highlighted the allure of the Cayman Islands to the luxury consumer, said the release.

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Luxury travel gets back on track with train revival

2006-01-12T11:26:00.000-08:00

A RAIL name of the past was revived today when the Blue Pullman returned to service after more than 30 years.

The luxurious Blue Pullman, run by independent train company FM Rail, left London's King's Cross station on a circular tour which is likely to take around four and a half hours.

The original Blue Pullman represented the best in luxury rail travel and was used on two routes - London to Wales and London to the Midlands. To mark the inaugural run today, the train was blessed at King's Cross by local priest Father Rob Wickham of St Pancras.

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India to host country's first luxury goods summit from Jan 13

2006-01-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

The 'Hindustan Times Luxury summit', aimed at encouraging India to emerge as a major retail hub, will begin here from January 13. The two-day summit will provide a platform for international luxury houses to interact with Indian government and industrialists.

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Playboy Signs Deal with JACOB & Co. to Create Luxury Timepieces

2006-01-11T23:50:00.000-08:00

Playboy announced that it has signed an agreement with JACOB & Co. to create a line of "Five Time Zone" luxury watches for men and women.

As one of the most sought-after jewelers for celebrities worldwide, Jacob Arabo has been helping celebrities sparkle with his creations for the past twenty years.

"I am excited about our special timepiece collaboration with Playboy, one of the great American brand names," stated Jacob Arabo, founder of JACOB & Co.

"My new designs pay homage to the iconic Playboy spirit that is so much a part of the fabric of our world society. That spirit crosses all borders, demographics, and psychographics, just as the Jacob & Co. brand appeals to a broad cross- section of our luxury global market."

Complementing the aspirational Playboy lifestyle, JACOB & Co. will offer a line of luxury watches.

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Chinese wealthy favor travel, luxury brands

2006-01-11T21:13:00.000-08:00

China's wealthy entrepreneurs favor travel, swimming and luxury foreign brand names, according to a study released Wednesday that quizzed nearly 600 business people on their personal preferences.

Nearly a third of the 589 people responding to the survey said their number one pastime was travel, followed by swimming, at 22 percent, and golf, 12 percent, according to the Hurun Report, a company that specializes in collecting information about China's moneyed classes.

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Luxury living lures down-sizers

2005-10-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

THE Smorgon and Liberman families' $90 million joint venture in luxury retirement living in Melbourne has recorded apartment pre-sales of 25 per cent.

The apartments have been sold some weeks ahead of the 54-residence Toorak Place development officially going on sale, at prices up to $1.72 million.

Located at 28-30 Jackson Street, alongside Toorak Village, the retirement project is a joint venture between the Smorgon's Escor Property and the Liberman's JGL Investment, and is managed by Retirement Services Australia.

JGL is a part-owner of RSA, which is controlled by Melbourne businessman and Richmond Football Club president Clinton Casey.

Started 16 years ago by Mr Casey, RSA has developed and managed retirement accommodation in Melbourne's best suburbs.

It now manages 1000 apartments located in 14 facilities.

JGL bought into the group five years ago.

Mr Casey is also the chairman of golf course residential developer Links Living, whose projects include the Sanctuary Lakes and Sandhurst development in Melbourne and a recently approved development at Airlie Beach in Queensland.

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Alrosa May Co-Brand With Luxury Groups

2005-09-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

Alrosa, Russia's Yakutia-based diamond monopoly, is discussing the possibility of co-branding with Tiffani & Co and Cartier, head of Alrosa Alexander Nichiporuk told the Russian Luxury Forum 2005 in Moscow, reports Interfax. Nichiporuk says that the parties are all interested, though discussions have yet to reach the negotiating stage.

According to Nichiporuk, Alrosa and Kristall of Smolensk, Russia's biggest diamond cutting enterprise, have also created a joint brand to promote their products on the market.

Neiman Marcus Does Its Part for Luxury Market

2005-09-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

This year's recently released Neiman Marcus Christmas Book provides ample evidence that the U.S. luxury market is indeed thriving.
As in the past, the 79-year-old annual tribute to indulgence features numerous high-priced, unique baubles and toys for shoppers who have enough $1,000 articles of clothing.

The standouts include a $3.5 million M400 Skycar prototype, the world's first personal vertical take-off and landing vehicle, and a private concert with Sir Elton John for $1.5 million.

There's also a personal photo booth for $20,000, a life-size, custom-painted IndyCar Series Car replica with flat-screen monitor and video game for $65,000 and a limited-edition sculpture that floats on an invisible magnetic wave for $90,000.

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$2mil diamond pen, anyone?

2005-09-28T23:58:00.000-07:00

$2 million diamond pen, anyone?