'Megatrends' set to shape luxury sector

Euromonitor International’s latest Megatrends report is designed to help businesses better anticipate market developments and lead change, with the influence these trends will have on the luxury travel sector examined by Euromonitor’s global head of luxury goods research, Fflur Roberts.

She will be among a range of speakers gathered to help delegates navigate consumer changes at the ninth annual ttgluxury Seminar, which will take place in the morning at The Roof Gardens in London on October 18.

Also speaking will be experienced marketing and brand expert Jenni Benzaquen, vice-president of luxury brands with Marriott International in Europe. Benzaquen is responsible for the company’s eight luxury brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bulgari Hotels, St Regis, W Hotels, EDITION, The Luxury Collection and JW Marriott, and has been key in driving the distinction since the merger of Starwood and Marriott.

Analysing the role of digital influencers and their potential in the luxury and travel arena will be leading digital agency Cream.

Its founder and chief executive Graham Painter and director of strategy and insight Charlotte Parks-Taylor will set out the landscape in which influencers have come to prominence and advise on best practice for working with them.

The role of companies selling travel will also be explore at the seminar, with a session with Seb Fallert, UK managing director of Secret Escapes, Gemma Antrobus, managing director of Haslemere Travel and Leila Al-Qattan, marketing and PR manager of Jacada Travel.

Leading travel and hotel journalist Juliet Kinsman will bring her years of knowledge to a session looking at what hotel brands and travel companies need to do to stay current and relevant in a crowded marketplace.

Editor of ttgluxury April Hutchinson said: “I am thrilled with the calibre of speakers we have attracted to this event, now in its ninth year. A morning spent at this conference will set people up with insight and strategy to guide them in the next few months and the year ahead.”

The ttgluxury Seminar takes place during TTG Media’s first ever Luxury Travel Week, a new initiative set up to herald this growing sector.

Luxury Travel Week will start on October 16 with ttgluxury’s 10th anniversary party at Rosewood London, and will also include a luxury-focused edition of TTG, out on October 19.

The week also includes Luxpo London, taking place in the afternoon of October 18 at The Roof Gardens, while on October 20, the ttgluxury Travel Awards will launch. This new initiative will celebrate the best in the luxury travel sector, with the ceremony taking place on February 9, 2018.