Kering aims to double profitability and revive its flagship brand Gucci; it announced its highly anticipated strategy to get the company back on track after a year-long luxury slump that hit it harder than its competitors. CEO Luca de Meo announced the strategy seven months after taking over the reins, during which investors’ optimism has mounted that he’ll be able to turn the legacy conglomerate around.
“In a nutshell, a model that worked for a decade is no longer effective for us,” he said during the company’s Capital Markets Day in Florence on Thursday. “Growth will come first from gaining share, restoring pricing power, and executing better than our peers.”
(CNBC)
The Waldorf Astoria has opened in Rabat, atop Morocco’s Tallest Tower. The 55-room hotel inside the Mohammed VI Tower marks the brand’s Moroccan debut, and it does so in true Waldorf Astoria style with a celestial design language, an Alain Ducasse restaurant, and one of North Africa’s largest private art collections.
(The Luxury Editor)
French cookware maker Le Creuset is partnering with Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection, a 140-acre luxury resort in New York’s Hudson Valley. The pair is launching Chef’s Atelier, a three-part culinary series that matches guided foraging on the property’s working farm with chef-led instruction and a multi-meal stay. The inaugural session is set for June 28, 2026, with chef Hillary Sterling of New York’s Ci Siamo, in collaboration with the resort’s culinary team.
“Partnering with Wildflower Farms to launch Chef’s Atelier underscores our commitment to elevating culinary skills, celebrating seasonal ingredients, and fostering connection over the shared joy of food,” said Nate Collier, senior director of brand and culinary marketing at Le Creuset, in a statement. “Attendees will learn how to use our products to their full potential while gaining insight from some of the most talented chefs in the industry.”
(Luxury Daily)
Two of the Hamptons’ more deliberate luxury addresses have formalized an arrangement. The Baker House 1650 in East Hampton and Hamptons Polo House have announced an exclusive partnership for the 2026 summer season, combining the former’s historic hospitality with the latter’s standing as the East End’s premier destination for equestrian culture and upscale gatherings.
The partnership operates in both directions. Guests booked at The Baker House will receive exclusive access to select polo matches, private viewing experiences, and signature social events hosted at Hamptons Polo House throughout the summer. Hamptons Polo House members, in turn, gain preferred access to accommodations and private gatherings at the Baker House property.
(Resident)
A notable shift is reshaping international travel. A new breed of premium carriers, often referred to as boutique airlines, is aggressively entering the market, aiming to disrupt the established order and capture travelers’ attention.
Magnifica Air, a Florida-based startup airline, is gearing up for takeoff in 2027. The airline is catering to a niche in the increasingly crowded premium air-travel space, toeing the line between private jet and commercial first class. It will operate as a fully scheduled carrier with a communal bar area at the tail end of the plane and leather seats. Initial routes are expected to link key business and leisure markets, including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, and Houston.
(Forbes)
