Annual Global Luxury Forum
Ritz Carlton, Moscow, Russia, 8 December 2008
Eventica has always prided itself on listening carefully to the voice of industry and our clients, partners and friends. It is for this reason that we are delighted to announce that the next Global Luxury Forum (GLF) will take place in Moscow!
This move reflects demand to actually learn about the business of luxury, especially from within economies that are not considered ‘established’ luxury markets. Russia and its neighbouring countries such as Kazakhstan and the Ukraine present an attractive and fast-growing luxury sector that is nevertheless underdeveloped, despite increasing luxury awareness and latent demand. It is to these countries that the business figures behind the major luxury brands are now looking – a means to ride the wave of the credit crunch that is blighting the Western world, but barely touching the oil rich economies and those that have proven their competitiveness in manufacturing and service outsourcing. The decision to relocate the Global Luxury Forum to Russia is therefore inevitable and it will follow on from Supreme Luxury, the IHT luxury conference produced and publicised by Eventica in Moscow, in November 2007, venturing to ask daring questions such as why we are not seeing more countries exploiting their luxury resources. ….or are we?
At present, the luxury industry is dominated by a small number of highly successful and prestigious conglomerates and companies who have, by good management and quality product, nurtured consumption. These companies, guided by the masters, are continually evolving, moving away from the business structures of a few years ago and rejecting strategies that have proven not to have led to the long term nurturing of their brands. These will undoubtedly prosper in new markets, especially when the conundrum of appropriate sales platforms and reliable associates is resolved. Yet it seems clear that on the horizon is rolling a powerful wave of competition from new comers. Many of these will be from emerging markets, companies who have built up powerful concerns involved in everything from mining and production through to brand-building and retailing. Having established the rules of play in their own countries, these new entities are developing their distribution networks to compete internationally – to take their product to the rest of the world – in many cases the key even to the solidification of their brand at home.
The Global Luxury Forum will offer this future a voice. With newcomers eager to learn about the process and to share experience with those further ahead in the evolutionary process, and established luxury players keen to forge strong links with these new markets, the atmosphere is ripe for discussion and highly targeted networking opportunities. The strong draw of respected and influential names from international business and media, will guarantee a global event. With partnerships now forming with luxury companies, organisations, media and other event organisers from around the world, the Global Luxury Forum will offer the overview of world industry experts and discuss national and local specifics vital to continued growth.
Salient themes for 2008 will include the “New” Markets- Who and what are they and what can they produce?; What’s in a name? Brand Heritage & Provenance; The Golden Rules of Launching and Growing a New Luxury Brand in the 21st Century; Learning the Luxury Skills; Penetrating the new markets – the power of distributors to make or break a brand and the role of e-commerce; Luxury – Design & Technology; Luxury and its Affiliations; The Skies the Limit: Battle of the Skies for the Luxury Traveler’s Loyalty.
Not content just to talk about luxury, delegates will be invited to enjoy a ‘Luxury Odyssey’ that will explore the ever-changing luxury potential of Moscow (9 December 2008), including the opportunity to put questions to a top Russian consumer panel. This Odyssey will continue with a trip to the heart of Russia’s luxury heritage – Saint Petersburg (10 December 2008), where it will link key luxury brands with the marvels of the city’s cultural and artistic heritage. More on this to come!
For more information regarding the Global Luxury Forum please call +44(0)20 7183 2560 or e-mail ls@eventica.co.uk. Information on the Global Luxury Forum 2007 and an event photo archive can also be found on our website www.eventica.co.uk.
