As the world of luxury has shifted away from a high price tag and brand/product-centricity and more towards customization and unique experiences, hospitality has certainly come to the forefront. According to Bain & Company, “luxury experiences” made of for 29% of the total global luxury market, surpassing the growth rate of total personal luxury goods segment in 2016. The main reason for this is that the hospitality sector, which includes categories such as luxury hotels and fine dining, is the best place to create experiences that are truly rare and personalized.
Dr. Suzanne Godfrey, expert in the area of luxury hospitality, said in her article The Long Read: Redefining Luxury in Hospitality, “It may be extreme and a bit over the top in a natural way that is fitting to the brand, its values and cultures. Ultimately, hospitality — in whatever form — provides an excellent opportunity for luxury brands to create memorable experiences and engage their clientele on a regular basis.”
This ability for the hospitality sector to create experience that the modern luxury customer craves has encouraged several personal luxury goods brands to venture into the hospitality sector. Brands such as Armani for example, who are thoroughly known for their brilliant contributions and innovations in the personal luxury goods sector are now setting up hotels, private residences, and cafes despite not having any history with hospitality whatsoever.
Often overlooked is the rise of hospitality within the private luxury residences. Creating rare and unique experiences in one-off events or temporary occasions is one matter, but to create this level of personalization in the everyday lives of luxury customers is a completely different challenge. Saint Amand, Lodha Group’s in-house hospitality service, is one such brand that delivers this sort of experience to their residents on a daily basis. The personalization goes well beyond recalling the names of the residents; the experts of Saint Amand go above and beyond to take note celebrating special occasions and milestones, paying very close attention to personal preferences and handling unique requests that go well beyond the “scope of work”.
During the unprecedented events of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Saint Amand staff were able to provide a luxury that not many could afford in Mumbai: the luxury of a life uninterrupted. Despite very limited resources due to the complete shutting down of the city, the Saint Amand staff were yet able to provide essentials and handle unique requests seamlessly, allowing their residents some sort of respite during a time filled with uncertainty and anxiousness.
