Where would you like to go on vacation next year? Perhaps you’re considering predicted luxury trends for 2024 that include far-flung destinations to the ends of the earth, one-in-a-lifetime experiences, and trips that protect the earth while bringing us closer to it? Or you have a bucket list of must-do experiences that guide you on yearly travels? Perhaps you trust your travel adviser for that, so thinking about where to go is not something you do.
Whichever category you fall into, there is an emerging luxury travel trend that you should perhaps take into consideration this 2024. It is the proliferation of luxury fashion hotels promising to give you all the experiences you crave in one location.
From Audemars Piguet to Louis Vuitton, luxury fashion brands are the newcomers in the hospitality industry
First, it was Audemars Piguet (in recent times of course, since luxury fashion brands like Bulgari have had their hotels for years now.) Hôtel des Horlogers opened to the public last year with the promise of eco-conscious lodgings and soundproof rooms, unobstructed views of the surrounding valley, and most importantly, easy access to the epicentre of Swiss watchmaking as well as ski resorts and other interesting sights.
Then, Louis Vuitton announced that it was transforming its Paris headquarters into a hotel and the largest LV boutique, amongst other things. There are scant details of what the hotel would look like, as well as a deadline for completion, but, with its strategic location, proximity to La Samaritaine and historical and tourist landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Notre Dame Cathedral, it is definitely the hotel for luxury travellers who want to fill their vacation with plenty activities.
But, if you would rather not wait, then the Vermelho, a 13-room boutique hotel by Christian Louboutin designed in collaboration with architect Madalena Caiado, might be perfect for you. Vermelho is the Portuguese word for red, Louboutin’s favourite colour, and although it looks simple on the outside, the inside is awash with character and maximalist details, filled with rooms that feature unique designs and antiques from the fashion designer’s collection.
Vermelho is situated in the village of Melides, Portugal’s next big beach town according to this publication. Whether you choose to go wine tasting or to immerse yourself in the nearly-unspoiled surroundings and the local cuisine, Christain Louboutin’s hotel and its location in Melides is worth a spot on your bucket list.
And if stealth luxury is your thing, then look no further than Chopard’s 1 Place Vendôme. Located above its boutique in Place Vendôme Square, the uber-luxurious hotel is big on privacy and exclusivity. When it launched on November 15 this year, it did so through high-end travel agencies and its VIP Chopard clientele because “We wanted to do things differently… In a very targeted way,” says Karl-Fritz Scheufele, third generation of the Scheufele family — owners of Chopard since 1963.
Made up of 10 suites and 5 rooms, 1 Place Vendôme wants to be an ‘anti-hotel’ that still manages to give all the traditional trappings of top luxury accommodations, down to its choice of furnishings, wall coverings and accents that are a nod to the Chopard brand itself.
Should you choose to stay at this hotel, you would have easy access to legacy luxury fashion brands like Cartier, Chaumet, Boucheron, Breguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre which are located in the Vendôme Square and can also explore other touristy locations like the Seine which is just a few minutes away.
So, whether you are looking to tick items off your bucket list, or you want to spend more meaningful time with family and friends on a different kind of vacation, these new luxury ‘fashion hotels’ are an emerging trend you may want to try out. Who knows? They just might offer you everything you are looking for in one place!