MCLEAN, Va.--April 2011--In today’s world, luxury has a new meaning. Ostentation is out and authenticity is in, so what defines luxury now? Hilton Worldwide Luxury Brands seek to answer this question via “The Luxury Manifesto,” a new Web-based video series featuring insightful conversations with luxury industry thought leaders. The series is available at facebook.com/ConradHotels and facebook.com/WaldorfAstoria, and is accompanied by content and commentary from influential luxury bloggers Paloma Contreras of LaDolceVitaBlog.com and Christine Lu of ChristineLu.com.
The video series, hosted by John T. A. Vanderslice, global head of luxury and lifestyle brands for Hilton Worldwide, features intimate conversations with luxury luminaries from the worlds of fashion, media, culinary, travel and the arts. Thought-provoking interviews with a range of industry influencers including designer Tommy Hilfiger, restaurateur Danny Meyer and Steve Sadove, CEO of Saks Inc, among others, examine modern luxury for today’s consumer.
“The luxury market is experiencing a reincarnation post-recession, but no one single vision of luxury has emerged,” said Vanderslice. “‘The Luxury Manifesto’ is an opportunity to learn about the changing face of our industry from its respected leaders. However, we aren’t just listening to what they have to say. We plan on using key insights from this series to help shape brand and operational initiatives at our Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Hotels & Resorts.”
“The Luxury Manifesto” Key Learnings
While “The Luxury Manifesto” is an ongoing series of conversations, the series has already revealed several key themes, including:
- Employees First – Luxury brands need to put employees first, not customers. This counterintuitive move ensures happy, empowered employees— the kind of employees who provide top-notch service.
- Experiences Over Things – Post-financial meltdown, true luxury means enjoying and sharing unique personal experiences, not the accumulation of possessions.
- Service Does Not Equal Hospitality – Service is a one-way technical process that normally involves meeting certain company-wide standards. Hospitality is a two-way dialogue that goes above and beyond and uses employee empathy and intuition to create a truly luxury experience.
- Time is the Ultimate Luxury – Excellent luxury service anticipates and handles guests’ needs, freeing up coveted “white space” on the calendar.
These themes, along with feedback from guests and insights from online conversations surrounding “The Luxury Manifesto” will be incorporated into new service initiatives currently under development by Hilton Worldwide Luxury Brands. Ensuring guests experience personalized service from the moment they book their trip through the time they depart, this new initiative will be tested at select Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts properties throughout 2011.
“The Luxury Manifesto” series, which recently debuted at the 2011 Luxury Summit in Park City, UT, will premiere a new video each month on the brands’ Facebook pages, offering a fresh perspective on the topic. Contreras and Lu will contribute luxury-based content, drive discussion around each video’s topic and engage with community members on an ongoing basis.
About Waldorf Astoria Hotels & ResortsWALDORF ASTORIA is Hilton Worldwide’s luxury brand of landmark hotels, with each one as singular and timeless as the brand’s namesake, The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel in New York. From classic elegance to modern grandeur, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts each represent worldly sophistication and unparalleled guest service. From sumptuous spas and culinary excellence to world-class golf, each hotel and resort offers the exquisite accommodations and signature accoutrements that define refinement and sophistication. Discover Waldorf Astoria by visiting www.waldorfastoria.com. Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is one of Hilton Worldwide’s ten market-leading brands.
About Conrad Hotels & Resorts
CONRAD® HOTELS & RESORTS is Hilton Worldwide’s global contemporary luxury brand and the modern-world choice for today’s sophisticated traveler. By focusing on the individual, Conrad offers guests genuine and personalized service and a world of style, service and connection. Each Conrad is a dynamic reflection of its city and culture, as well as a showcase for striking design and distinct surroundings. Across five continents, in the world’s gateway cities and most sought-after resort destinations, Conrad invites each guest to enjoy The Luxury Of Being Yourself®. For information on Conrad, please visit www.conradhotels.com. Conrad Hotels & Resorts is one of Hilton Worldwide’s ten market-leading brands.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 92 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,700 hotels and 610,000 rooms in 82 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.